Symmetric weak-form integral equation method for three-dimensional fracture analysis (Q1267915)

A symmetric Galerkin boundary element method is developed for the analysis of linearly elastic isotropic three-dimensional solids containing fractures. The formulation is based upon a weak-form displacement integral equation and a weak-form traction integral equation. These integral equations are only weakly singular, and their validity requires only that the boundary displacement data are continuous, hence, allowing standard \(C^0\) elements to be employed. As part of the numerical implementation, a special crack-tip element is developed which has a feature in that there exist degrees of freedom associated with the nodes at the crack front.