Simulating Crack Trajectories from a radially loaded hole

A procedure for determining the trajectory of growth of a crack in the neighbourhood of a stress-raising feature is described, The method relies on first determining the underlying stress field, and then formulating an integral equation along the (generally) curvilinear contour of the crack, which ensures that its surfaces remain traction free. The crack tip stress intensities are calculated, from which an increment of growth is found using the σθθmax criterion. The technique is then applied to the determination of the growth trajectory for a crack growing from a circular hole loaded by pressing a pin against its boundary.