On non-singular GRADELA crack fields

Abstract

A brief account is provided on crack-tip solutions that have recently been published in the literature by employing the so-called GRADELA model and its variants. The GRADELA model is a simple gradient elasticity theory involving one internal length in addition to the two Lame' constants, in an effort to eliminate elastic singularities and discontinuities and to interpret elastic size effects. The non-singular strains and non-singular (but sometimes singular or even hypersingular) stresses derived this way under different boundary conditions differ from each other and their physical meaning in not clear. This is discussed which focus on the form and physical meaning of non-singular solutions for crack-tip stresses and strains that are possible to obtain within the GRADELA model and its extensions.

Keywords

• gradient elasticity
• non-singular cracks
• fracture