Stress intensity factors for L-shaped corner cracks in steel members with rectangular hollow section

An L-shaped corner crack in steel members with rectangular hollow section (RHS) has two moving crack tips on flange and web plates respectively. J-integral method based on finite element analysis was adopted and stress intensity factors (SIF) were determined for L-shaped corner cracks with different combinations of flange and web crack lengths. It was found that the SIF at either crack tip is dependent not only on crack length of the same side but also on the ratio of two crack lengths. SIF solutions were then setup for L-shaped corner cracks in steel RHS members by regression analysis.