The combined compression and shear loading in dams causes the crucial rock concrete interfa- cial crack faces to comes in contact. Hence sizeable contact zone emerge near the crack tip. Frictional contact of the crack surfaces cannot be neglected if…
The combined compression and shear loading in dams causes the crucial rock concrete interfa- cial crack faces to comes in contact. Hence sizeable contact zone emerge near the crack tip. Frictional contact of the crack surfaces cannot be neglected if the contact zones are finite. The frictional contact alters the stress singularity to become either weak or strong than the inverse square root singularity as observed in homogene- ous crack problems. Consequently, the strain energy release rate as conventionally defined, either vanishes or becomes unbounded and thus cannot be used as a fracture parameter..