DUAL BOUNDARY-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CLOSED CRACKS

A two-dimensional boundary element method for analysis of closed or pa rtially closed cracks under normal and frictional forces is developed. The single domain dual formulation is used. As a contact problem is n on-linear due to the friction phenomena at the crack interface and als o because of the boundary conditions which may change during the loadi ng, it is formulated in an incremental and iterative fashion. The stre ss intensity factors are calculated with the J-integral method. Also c rack growth is considered. Several benchmark cases have been analysed to verify the results given by the method. The stress intensity factor s and crack paths calculated are similar to those given in the literat ure. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.