Analytical integrations and SIFs computation in 2D fracture mechanics

Analytical integrations, in the framework of linear elastic problems modelled by means of boundary integral equations, have been considered in a previous publication (Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 2002; 53(7):1695–1719): the present note aims at extending the subject to linear elastic fracture mechanics. In such a context, special shape functions have been recently proposed (SIAM J. Appl. Math. 1998; 58: 428–455) in order to increase accuracy in stress intensity factors approximation: the closed form solution for ‘integrals’ that arise from the boundary element method is a goal of the present work. Exploiting the analytical integrations, asymptotical analysis around the crack tip are made possible, with the purpose of formulating a coherent and accurate correlation between approximated stress intensity factors and crack opening displacements over the crack tip straight special elements. Copyright q 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.