LAUSR

Abstract This technical note demonstrates the use of tetrahedral meshing for modelling a slanted semi-elliptical surface crack at a solid cylinder by finite element method (FEM). For a relatively small ratio of the crack depth over cylinder diameter, Modes I and II (in-plane) stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the corner points by FEM were observed to be in good agreements with those by the dual boundary element method (DBEM). Effect of the crack aspect ratio, crack size and loading mode on the corner point singularity was noted. The tearing loading mode was found to promote a greater corner point singularity.