A new method for evaluation of stress intensities for interface cracks

A new method is presented for calculating the values of K-I and K-II in the elasticity solution at the tip of an interface crack. The method is based on an evaluation of the J-integral by the virtual crack extension method. Expressions for calculating K-I and K-II by using the displacements and the stiffness derivative of the finite element solution and asymptotic crack tip displacements are derived. The method is shown to produce very accurate solutions even with coarse element mesh.