An appropriate quadrature rule for the analysis of plane crack problems in the boundary-element method

An hypersingular integral equation of a three-dimensional elastic solid with an embedded planar crack subjected to a uniform stress field at infinity is derived. The solution of the boundary-integral equation is succeeded taking into consideration an appropriate Gauss quadrature rule for finite part integrals which is suitable for the numerical treatment of any plane crack with a smooth-contour shape and permit the fast convergence for the results. The problem of a circular and of an elliptical crack in an infinite body subjected to a uniform stress field at infinity is confronted; and the stress intensity factors are calculated. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.