ABSTRACT
Rapid advances in computer technology are primarily responsible for the exponential growth in applications of computational fracture mechanics. Although most computational fracture mechanics analyses are performed on stationary cracks, there are instances where it is desirable to analyze the crack growth. This chapter describes several of the earlier approaches for inferring fracture mechanics parameters from numerical analysis. It describes some of the traditional approaches to numerical analysis of fracture problems, as well as some recent innovations. The chapter gives a brief overview of some of the considerations that should govern the construction of a mesh for the analysis of crack problems. The finite element models have focused meshes, where the highest level of mesh refinement is at the crack tip. A variety of numerical techniques have been applied to problems in solid mechanics, including finite difference, finite element, and boundary integral equation (BIE) methods.
