Evaluation of polymer fracture parameters by the boundary element method

The boundary element method (BEM) for two-dimensional linear viscoelasticity is applied to polymer fracture. The time-dependence of stress intensity factors is assessed for various viscoelastic models as well as loading and support conditions. Various representations of the energy release rate under isothermal conditions are adopted. Additional boundary integral equations for the displacement gradient in the domain are linked to algorithms for the evaluation of path-independent J-integrals. The consistency of BEM predictions and their good agreement with other analytical results confirms BEM as a valid modelling tool for viscoelastic fracture characterisation and failure assessment under complex geometric and loading conditions.