APPLICATIONS OF MULTIREGION TREFFTZ-COLLOCATION TO FRACTURE-MECHANICS

This paper describes the application of a multi-region indirect Trefft z method in the analysis of two-dimensional linear elastic fracture me chanics problems. The technique allows for the use of subregions with the necessary continuity conditions being appropriately enforced at th e interfaces. The system of equations is assembled by collecting all t he required terms from the collocation of the displacement and the tra ction equations at a number of boundary points. Numerical tests were c arried out which included the stress intensity factor computation for cracked plates (centre and edge cracks) and for a notched plate. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.