Boundary element analysis of three-dimensional mixed-mode thermoelastic crack problems using the interaction and energy domain integrals

Abstract

A three-dimensional boundary element method (BEM) implementation of the interaction integral methodology for the numerical analysis of mixed-mode three-dimensional thermoelastic crack problems is presented in this paper. The interaction integral is evaluated from a domain representation naturally compatible with the BEM, since stresses, strains, temperatures and derivatives of displacements and temperatures at internal points can be evaluated using the appropriate boundary integral equations. Several examples are analysed and the results compared with those available in the literature to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the implementation to solve straight and curved crack-front problems.