On the effect of quarter-point element size on fracture criteria
The effect of the quarter-point element size on the solution parameters of fracture criteria is investigated in view of its effect on the computed stress intensity factors. An analytical relationship between the error in calculating crack propagation increment and stress intensity for single mode problems is obtained while, for mixed mode problems, the investigation is based on numerical experimentation. The singular element size is found to have a substantial effect on both crack propagation angle and increment for the geometries considered.