Analytical formulas for a 2-D crack tip singular boundary element for rectilinear cracks and crack growth analysis (Q1961174)

The paper presents simple analytical formulas for displacement, traction and stress intensity factors. The method is based on a continuous distribution of dislocation dipoles, and employs Chebyshev polynomials. The well-known singularity of stresses in the crack tip vicinity is built into the formulas. The authors compare the performance of the crack tip singular element to other crack elements that incorporate the crack tip singularity analytically. A numerical result is given for a crack growth problem, where repeated updates of the crack shape and of the stress intensity factor are required as the crack grows in a curvilinear path.