Computation of T-stresses for multiple-branched and intersecting cracks with the numerical manifold method

Due to its dual cover systems (i.e., the mathematical cover and the physical cover), the numerical manifold method (NMM) is outstanding in crack modeling, especially in the simulation of complex cracks. In this paper, the NMM is extended to calculate the T-stresses for two-dimensional multiple-branched and intersecting cracks. The displacement jump across crack surface is essentially portrayed by the NMM, and the stress singularity at the crack tip is represented through the incorporation of related asymptotic basis in the NMM local functions. The T-stresses are extracted with the domain-form interaction integral in the NMM postprocessing. To validate the proposed scheme, three numerical examples are tested on uniform mathematical covers nonconforming with all domain boundaries, and the computed results are in nice consistence with the existing solutions. Besides, the effects of crack configurations and boundary conditions on the T-stresses are also revealed.