A Direct Numerical Method for Stress and Stress-Intensity Factor in Arbitrary, Cracked, Elastic Bars Under Torsion and Longitudinal Shear

Abstract

A numerical method is proposed for a direct local determination of stresses in a general twisted and sheared cracked bar. Conceptually, the method employs the integral approach of the potential theory but is modified to yield the stress components without numerical differentiation or interpolation from a potential function. A general expression for the stress-intensity factor at the crack tip is formulated. It checks favorably with the corresponding theoretical solutions. Computer running time and storage requirements for typical problems indicate the comparative efficiency of the method in addition to its relatively high accuracy near the crack tip.