We consider the effect of surface elasticity on a finite crack in a particular class of
compressible hyperelastic materials of harmonic type subjected to uniform remote
Piola stresses. The surface mechanics is incorporated into the model of finite
deformation by employing a version of the continuum-based surface/interface theory
of Gurtin and Murdoch. A complete solution valid throughout the entire domain of
interest is obtained by reducing the problem to two series of coupled Cauchy singular
integrodifferential equations that are solved numerically using a collocation method.
Our model predicts that, in general, the size-dependent Piola stresses exhibit a weak
logarithmic singularity at the crack tips. For a crack in a special class of
materials subjected to mode II loading, the stresses are bounded whereas the
deformation gradients exhibit a logarithmic-type singularity at the crack
tips.
Keywords
surface elasticity, hyperelastic material of harmonic type,
crack, logarithmic singularity, Cauchy singular
integrodifferential equations