Three-dimensional boundary element analysis of fatigue crack growth in linear and non-linear fracture problems

This paper presents general boundary element procedures for the elastic and elastoplastic numerical modelling of three-dimensional fatigue crack growth. The elastic and elastoplastic boundary element formulations are briefly introduced, followed by the description of the crack propagation strategies. In both cases, fatigue crack growth is numerically modelled through an incremental crack extension procedure. For each crack extension the dual boundary element method is used to perform a single region analysis of the cracked component and the corresponding fracture parameter (K or J depending on if the analysis is elastic or elastoplastic) is computed along the crack front. New positions of the crack front are determined using the Paris law. The capabilities of the proposed procedures are demonstrated by comparison of numerical predictions with experimental results. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.