Shear-stress intensity factors for elastic sheets with cover plates

Shear stress intensity factors are calculated for three problems concerning inextensible cover plates either bonded to or embedded in an elastic sheet which is under uniaxial tension. The stress intensity factors are small when the ratio of sheet thickness to cover plate length is small and, as the ratio increase, rapidly approach their asymptotic values for infinite sheet thickness. In the problem of the embedded cover plate, the stress intensity factor also depends on the Poisson's ratio of the sheet material. The dependence on Poisson's ratio, however, is significant only when the ratio of sheet thickness to cover plate length is small. Some possible implications of the present results for debonding of reinforced sheets under cyclic loading are briefly discussed.