Calculation of the stress intensity factor for arbitrary finite cracked body by using the boundary weight function method

An efficient boundary weight function method for the determination of stress intensity factors in a two-dimensional mixed mode cracked body with arbitrary shape and subjected to arbitrary loading is presented in this study. The functional form of the boundary weight functions for modes I and II are successfully demonstrated by using the least squares fitting procedure. Explicit boundary weight functions are presented for rectangular plates of finite width and length containing edge and central cracks. If the stress distribution of a cut out rectangular cracked plate from any arbitrary shape of cracked body subjected to arbitrary loading is determined, the stress intensity factors KI and KII for the cracked body can be obtained from the predetermined boundary weight functions by a simple integration. Comparison from the literature of the calculated results with some solutions by other workers confirms the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed weight function method.