Stress intensity factors for a semi-elliptical surface crack in a T-shapedgeometry Part 2: approximate solutions at the deepest point for arbitrary crack-face loading

The Petroski-Achenbach displacement formulation is applied in conjunction w ith the weight function method in order to determine the mode I stress inte nsity factor at the deepest point of a semielliptical surface crack in a T- shaped geometry subjected to arbitrary crack-face loadings. The T-geometry is taken to be representative of the web and flange of an I-section and was previously investigated for tensile and bending loading. Comparison betwee n the model developed here and the finite element solutions for two differe nt stress distributions reveals very good agreement for shallow cracks, alt hough the differences between the results of the weight function formulatio n and the finite element results increase as the crack becomes deeper and m ore rounded. The normalized stress intensity factors, for up to fifth-degre e polynomial crack-face loading, are given in tabular form.