Boundary element method analysis for mode III linear fracture mechanics in anisotropic and nonhomogeneous media

We present here a Boundary Element Method implementation for anti-plane fracture mechanics in nonhomogeneous and anisotropic media. The results are obtained using two different formulations based on displacement and traction Boundary Integral Equations (BIEs). The crack tips are discretized with special quarter-point boundary elements. The main crack configurations are studied to determine the stress intensity factors (SIFs). Results for homogeneous and isotropic/anisotropic cases are compared with available solutions in the literature, showing good results. For the case of exponential nonhomogeneity, numerical results are obtained for moderately stiffer media and for softer media.