The linear elastic analysis of cracked bodies, crack paths and some practical crack path examples

The linear elastic analysis of cracked bodies is a Twentieth Century development, with the first papers appearing in 1907. The stress intensity factor concept, introduced in 1957, developed rapidly in the 1960s, with widespread application to practical problems. Finite element analysis had a significant influence on the development of linear elastic fracture mechanics. Corner point singularities were investigated in the late 1970s, but a new field parameter is still needed to describe the stresses at surfaces. There are geometric constraints on permissible fatigue crack paths. Some case studies of fatigue crack paths in metallic materials are included.