Numerical analysis of the inclusion-crack interactions using an integral equation

 A general-purpose integral formulation is proposed for the analysis of the interaction between inclusions and cracks embedded in an elastic isotropic homogeneous infinite medium subjected to a remote loading. This formulation is tailored for the inclusions of arbitrary shapes with the presence of cracks. The discretization is limited to the inclusions (with continuous quadratic triangular and quadrilateral elements) and the cracks (using discontinuous quadratic elements). For the calculation of the stress intensity factors at the crack tips, special crack tip elements are used to model the variation of the displacements near the crack tips. Maximum circumferential stress criterion is adopted to determine the crack propagating direction. Numerical results of benchmark examples are compared with other available methods. Received: 8 January 2002 / Accepted: 24 September 2002