ABSTRACT
In chapter 3, section 3.6, stress intensity factors (SIFs) for different problem geometries have been discussed. For most of these problem geometries, the crack is assumed to be present in an infinite solid. In other words, stressfree boundaries were not present near the crack tip except for the two crack surfaces. In this chapter we introduce some realistic problem geometries in which a stress-free boundary in addition to the two crack surfaces may be present near the crack tip. Stress intensity factors for some two-dimensional and some three-dimensional cracks, such as circular cracks, elliptical cracks, and part-through semi-elliptical cracks, are discussed in this chapter.
