Approximate weight functions of stress intensity factor for a wide range shapes of surface and an embedded elliptical crack

This paper describes the application of weight function for stress intensity factor in a surface crack with a wide range of crack shapes. Based on the weight function representation proposed by Wang and Glinka (2009), an extended formulation of the weight function for surfaces and embedded cracks is performed. The unknown parameters in the formulations were determined from reference values of stress intensity factor for a surface and an embedded crack given by finite element analysis with the J integral method. The effectiveness of the proposed weight functions has been verified by comparing with the stress intensity factors given by finite element analysis and available approximated solutions under several loading conditions.