On the modified Westergaard equations for certain plane crack problems.

An error in Westergaard's (1939) equation for a certain class of plane crack problems, originally pointed out by Sih (1966) is briefly discussed anew. The source of the difficulty is traced to an oversight in an earlier work by MacGregor (1935) upon whose work Westergaard based his equations. Several examples of interest, illustrating the consequences of the necessary correction to these equations, are given.