Averaged stress intensity factors for embedded elliptical cracks

As an extension of well-known two-degree-of-freedom models describing virtual crack extensions in weight function applications for surface crack configurations different possibilities are suggested of four-degree-of-freedom models used for embedded elliptical cracks. As a result, the geometric function for an elliptical crack in a strip of finite width is presented for tension and bending. FEM-calculations have been carried out to check the quality of the solution.