A study of free surface effects on through cracks using BEM

The effect of free surfaces on fracture characteristics for elastostatic problems is investigated using three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM). Stress intensity factors (SIFs) are calculated in BEM using traction values at the nodes along the crack front. A close correspondence between KI computed from traction values and J1n integral is seen. Thus, it is possible to relate the evaluated state of stress at the crack vertex, where crack...