AbstractA Zener-Stroh crack interacting with an edge dislocation is studied. The crack faces are assumed to be traction free. The applied ‘generalized loading’ for crack is the initial displacement jump and the intervention of the edge dislocation. Through decomposing the problem into two sub-simple problems, using the superposition principle, its solution is obtained. To demonstrate both the validity of the solution and its potential application, two simple examples related to the crack stress intensity factors are presented on the basis of the solution. The application of the solution to model crack initiations arising from dislocation-pileup is discussed.