The periodic array of interface cracks and their interaction

A periodic array of interface cracks is considered as a simple model for studying interface crack interaction. The novel feature of the solution is the elimination of the oscillatory singularities and of the material overlapping which is accomplished by allowing frictionless contact zones at the crack tips. The results are obtained for a combination of shear and tension-compression loads applied at infinity. It is shown that the stress intnsity factors become smaller with decreasing distance between the cracks. This indicates that the spreading of an interface crack is inhibited by the presence of adjacent cracks.