An analytic solution for the problem of two symmetrical edge cracks emanating from a circular hole with surface effect under antiplane shear

A theoretical study is performed on the fracture characteristics for the problem of two symmetrical edge cracks emanating from a circular hole with surface effect under far-field antiplane shear loading. Based on the theory of Gurtin–Murdoch surface model, a rigorous analytical solution of the stress intensity factor and the strain energy release rate at a crack tip is presented by using the complex potential function and a conformal mapping technique. When the cracked hole becomes nano-sized, the stress intensity factor and the strain energy release rate show significant size dependence. The interaction effects between cracks and hole on the stress intensity factor and the strain energy release rate are discussed in providing numerical examples.