Accuracy Study of Stress Intensity Factor Solutions Obtained by Commercial FE Software.

This paper deals with the problem of calculation of Stress Intensity Factor in two ways: theoretically and numerically with two methods: Virtual Crack Closure Technique and J – Integral method. Three types of geometries were considered: plates with central/boundary crack and notch bending specimen. Numerical simulations covered a mesh sensitivity study for three mesh sizes and linear/nonlinear material model. Good correlation between exact solution and numerical tests was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]