Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2011
Element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) based on moving least-square curve fitting concept is presented and applied to elastic fracture problems. Because no element connectivity data are needed, EFGM is very convenient and effective numerical method for crack growth analysis. This paper is intended as an investigation of crack trajectory for different notch locations under three-point bending test. The initial crack growth angles obtained by element-free Galerkin method in comparison with those obtained by lab test reveal that both results are very close. However, numerical results also show that the location of an original notch can stronger affect the variation of crack path for different increment. The stress intensity factors (SIF) of cracks under three-point bending test with different increment are also investigated by EFGM.