ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSAL WEIGHT FUNCTION METHOD FOR KINKED CRACKS UNDER MECHANICAL AND THERMAL LOADING

The universal weight function (UWF) method is extended in this study to deal with the kinked crack problems. Fundamental equations of the UWF method for two dimensional kinked crack body subjected to thermal and mechanical loadings are formulated based on the Betti’s reciprocal theorem. The virtual crack extension technique and stiffness derivative method are used to couple the UWF method with the finite element method (FEM). Formulation of finite element implementation of UWF method are given for two dimensional kinked crack body. Numerical results show that the UWF method is of high accuracy and efficiency. The changes of stress intensity factors with kinked crack length and inclination angle of kinked cracks are studied using the UWF method.