THE JACOBIAN DERIVATIVE METHOD FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL FRACTURE-MECHANICS

This paper presents a new algorithm to compute the distribution of the strain energy release rate along the crack front for three-dimensional cracks (e.g surface cracks). The algorithm is economical and accurate. The algorithm is illustrated via two-dimensional and three-dimensional examples including a surface crack in a cylinder under internal pressure and side-grooved compact-test specimens. It is shown, via specific examples, that only a single, self-similar virtual crack extension is necessary to accurately compute the strain-energy release-rate distribution along the crackfront.