Numerical methods for determination of stress intensity factors of singular stress field

The asymptotic solution of the singular stress held near a singular point is generally comprised of one or more singular terms in the form of Kr(lambda-1)f(ij)(0). Based on the asymptotic solution of the singular stress field and the common numerical solution (stresses or displacements) obtained by an ordinary tool such as the finite element method or boundary element method, a simple and effective numerical method is developed to calculate stress intensity factors for one and two singularities. Three examples show that the stress intensity factors evaluated using the method proposed in this paper are very accurate. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.