Abstract
3he general solution of screw dislocations near an interface crack has been investigated. The solution to screw dislocations near an interface crack in two semi-infinite half-planes is found to relate to the solution near a crack in an infinite single medium. For the case of anti-plane shear, the mechanical behavior of an interface crack in a composite material is the same as that of a crack in a single material if the shear modulus of the single material is replaced by the effective shear modulus. The stress field, stress intensity factor and image force on a screw dislocation arising from remote, mode III applied stress in a composite material are calculated from the counterparts in a single material. A comparison of the present method and the conformal mapping method is also made. © 1994.