The influence of higher order terms of Williams series on a more accurate description of stress fields around the crack tip

In this work, the crack tip stress field is investigated in two different configurations loaded in mode I as well as in mode I + II. The detailed two‐dimensional solution includes a conventional finite elements analysis that is compared to results obtained analytically from what is referred to as Williams expansion. The influence of consideration of various numbers of terms of the series expansion on the stress distribution is discussed, and the significance of the multi‐parameter fracture mechanics approach is emphasized for some engineering applications, for example, failure of quasi‐brittle materials and estimation of plastic zone extent.