LAUSR

Abstract The efficiency of classical truly meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method with linear test function approximation in the crack growth problems of complex configurations is investigated in this article. Several unique and multiple (two) cracks are examined to show the accuracy of the proposed meshfree method by comparing the crack path with boundary element, finite element, element-free Galerkin and experimental results. Crack propagation under both mechanical and thermal loads and also mode I and mixed-mode conditions are evaluated. Effect of the functionality of material properties on crack paths and sensitivity of crack growth to boundary conditions are investigated. Classical maximum circumferential stress criterion is employed into the formulation of the MLPG method to predict crack growth direction. Despite the common numerical studies, a simple and straightforward automatic increment size determination method is introduced and implemented in the MLPG method. Besides, regular domain point distribution in the vicinity of the crack tip without the increased density of points is used. Various test problems show the computational accuracy and applicability of this method to linear elastic fracture mechanics problems.