Author(s)

A.P.S. Selvadurai & A.T. Mahyari

Abstract

The paper examines certain moving boundary problem arising from the symmetric indentation of a penny-shaped crack smoothly embedded in a poroelastic medium by porous rigid discs. The analysis focuses on the study of the stable quasi-static crack growth that results from the internal loading of the penny-shaped crack. The finite element formulation used in the study accounts for the singularity of effective stresses at the crack tip. The self- similar crack extension results in the moving of the crack tip and the alteration of boundary conditions governing the tractions, displacements and pore fluid pressures in the incremental crack extension zone. 1. Introduction The theory of poroelasticity developed by Biot [1] accounts for the coupled processes of fluid flow and elastic deforma

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