The 3-D BEM implementation of a numerical Greenʹs function for fracture mechanics applications

The use of Greenʹs functions has been considered a powerful technique in the solution of fracture mechanics problems by the boundary element method (BEM). Closed-form expressions for Greenʹs function components, however, have only been available for few simple 2-D crack geometry applications and require complex variable theory. The present authors have recently introduced an alternative numerical procedure to compute the Greenʹs function components that produced BEM results for 2-D general geometry multiple crack problems, including static and dynamic applications. This technique is not restricted to 2-D problems and the computational aspects of the 3-D implementation of the numerical Greenʹs function approach are now discussed, including examples