Application of material forces to fracture of inhomogeneous materials : illustrative examplesFischer, Franz Dieter (Avtor) Predan, Jožef (Avtor) Kolednik, Otmar (Avtor) Simha, N.K. (Avtor) The material forces concept has become an elegant tool in continuum mechanics for the calculation of the thermodynamic driving force of a defect. Based on this concept, we have recently shown that inhomogeneities essentially shield or anti-shield crack tips from applied far-field stresses. The goal of this paper is to illustrate this by considering the model example of a crack in a CT-type specimen that contains a bimaterial interface. The crack driving force is calculated as the sum of the far-field driving force and the crack-tip shielding or anti-shielding. Several cases of inhomogeneity in either thermal or elastic properties are considered. Rather simple hand calculations are provided in addition to numerical results to illustrate the advantages of using the material forces concept.20072012-06-01 11:14:02Neznano27437UDK: 539.3:519.61/.64COBISS_ID: 10670614ISSN pri članku: 0939-1533NUK URN: URN:SI:UM:DK:IKJALQCVsl