Asymptotic and numerical study of a surface breaking crack subject to a transient thermal loading

An asymptotic algorithm is applied to the problem of a finite, thermo-elastic solid containing a surface breaking crack, when the exterior surface is subjected to oscillatory thermal loading. This algorithm involves the study of a model problem. An analytical and numerical study of this model problem of a thermo-elastic half space containing a surface breaking crack and subjected to oscillatory thermal loading is presented. The crack surface is traction free. In particular, the amplitude of the stress intensity factor at the crack vertex is found as a function of the crack depth and the frequency of thermal oscillation.