A NEW BOUNDARY METHOD FOR TORSION PROBLEMS OF BARS WITH CURVILINEAR CRACKS

The torsion fracture problem of bars with curvilinear cracks is investigated. New boundary integral equations for the torsion problem of bars with curvilinear cracks are derived, in which the bars can be of arbitrary sections and the cracks can be either straight or curvilinear. The torsion rigidity and stress intensity factors can be easily calculated by introducing interpolation models for both singular crack tip elements and other crack linear elements. Some typical torsion problems of the bars with different sections, involving a straight, kinked or curvilinear crack are calculated. The numerical results demonstrate the validity and applicability of the present boundary element method.