Evaluation of mode I stress intensity factors for edge cracks from 2-D V-notches using composition of constituent SIF weight functions

Stress intensity factor (SIF) weight functions for an edge crack emanating from a single edge V-notch in a finite strip is defined in terms of its constituent SIF weight functions. Solutions are achieved by applying the closed form composition model developed from the composition theory for SIF weight functions [Brennan FP, Teh LS. Determination of crack tip stress intensity factors in complex geometries by composition of weight function solutions. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct 2004;27:1-7]. To overcome the shortage of available constituent reference solutions, finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to evaluate SIFs and the associated stress fields for V-notches. The FEA results were shown to be within 5% of those achieved from the analytical solution. The paper presents weight function coefficients, C_ij, for V-notches in semi-infinite bodies which used with the composition model provides extensive SIF solutions for 2-D V-notches under any symmetrical stress system. More importantly, this paper demonstrates the robustness and mathematical simplicity of the composition principle that is independent of the influences of stresses in evaluating new sets of SIF solutions.