Closed form solution of stress intensity factors for cracks emanating from surface semi-spherical cavity in finite body with energy release rate method

In this paper, a new semi-analytical and semi-engineering method of the closed form solution of stress intensity factors (SIFs) of cracks emanating from a surface semi-spherical cavity in a finite body is derived using the energy release rate theory. A mode of crack opening displacements of a normal slice is established, and the normal slice relevant functions are introduced. The proposed method is both effective and accurate for the problem of three-dimensional cracks emanating from a surface cavity. A series of useful results of SIFs are obtained.