A Numerical Procedure for Estimating the Stress Intensity Factor of a Crack in a Finite Plate

Abstract

The advantages of the complex variable method are combined with the numerical procedure of collocation for estimating the stress intensity factors in finite, cracked plates subjected to in-plane loadings. In this approach, the complex stress functions for an infinite plate problem are modified to meet the boundary conditions for a finite plate with identical crack configuration. This procedure produces a system of linear equations which can be programmed readily on high-speed computers. The procedure is used to find the elastic stress intensity factor at the crack tip in a centrally notched plate in uniaxial tension. The resulting values are nearly identical to the stress intensity values determined analytically by the theory of elasticity. This numerical procedure should be useful for designers and analysts working in the fields of fracture mechanics and fail-safe concepts.