Two‐dimensional stress intensity factor computations using the boundary element method

A multidomain boundary element formulation for the analysis of general two‐dimensional plane strain/stress crack problems is presented. The numerical results were accurate and efficient. The analyses were performed using traction singular quater‐point boundary elements on each side of the crack tip(s) with and without transition elements. Traction singular quarter‐point boundary elements contain the correct √r displacement and 1/√r traction variations at the crack tip. Transition elements are appended to the traction singular elements to model the √r displacement variation. The 1/√r traction singularity is not represented with these elements. Current research studies for the crack propagation analysis of quasi‐static and fatigue fracture problems are discussed.