A Trefftz method for evaluating the T‐stress for cracks emanating from a hole in a rectangular plate

This paper proposes a Trefftz method for evaluating the T-stress for cracks emanating from a hole in a rectangular plate. In this method, the displacement and the stress field are an elasticity solution, which is derived from complex potentials. The complex potentials are assumed in a series form with undetermined coefficients. After using the minimum potential energy principle, an algebraic equation for the undetermined coefficients can be formulated. The coefficients can be obtained from the equation, and the whole stress field is determined. Stress intensity factor and T-stress can be evaluated immediately from the known solution. Merit of the suggested method is addressed. For three particular cases, R=0, R/w=0.25 and R/w=0.5, the computed results are tabulated. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.