using m-integral for multi-cracked problems subjected to nonconservative and nonuniform crack surface tractions

in this paper, an energy parameter based on the concept of the m-integral is proposed for describing the fracture behavior of a multi-cracked solid subjected to nonconservative and nonuniform crack surface tractions. by using the m-integral with a suitably chosen closed contour, one can evaluate the ‘surface creation energy’ (sce) required for creation of the stressed cracks. also, it is demonstrated that the property of path-independence holds even under the action of crack surface tractions. therefore, the singular stress field in the near-tip areas is not directly involved in the calculation so that a complicated finite element model around the crack tips is not required in evaluation of the m-integral.