Rice’s J-Integral The variation of the strain energy in graphical

way:

δU = U [𝐴′(Г′)] − U[A(Г)] (6)

δU = bδ [∫ ̅ 𝑑𝐴] = −𝑏 ∫ 𝑈
𝑈 ̅ 𝑑𝑥2 𝛿𝑎 (7)
𝐴(Г) Г

Substitution of Eq. (5) and (7) to (4) leads to the

following expression for the energy release rate

Elemental energy release=external work – ̅ 𝑑𝑥2 − 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖,1 𝑑𝑠)

𝐺 = ∫ (𝑈 (8)
Г
elastic strain energy
J-integral is equal to the energy release rate, G,
Gbδa = δ𝑊 𝑅 = 𝛿𝑊 − 𝛿𝑈 (1)
only if
1. External work
(1) the nonelastic zone reduces to a point in the
In the plane case, the elemental external work interior of Г
is just the work done by the surface tractions
(2) the crack faces are traction-free
on the boundary Г:
(3) the crack is plane and extends in its own
𝛿𝑊 = 𝑏 ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 𝑑𝑠 (2)
Г
plane

ti: surface traction vector, ui: displacement

The relations of dx2=n1ds into Eq. (8)
vector, ds: length increment along the contour
Г
̅ 𝑛1 − 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖,1 )𝑑𝑠
𝐽 = ∫ (𝑈 (9)
Г

2. Elastic strain energy Ref) dx1=-n2ds and dx2=n1ds

The elastic strain energy is written as the
integral of the elastic strain energy density
throughout the volume of the subbody defined
by Г
n(n1,n2): normal to ds, where ds=ds(dx1,dx2)
Inner product of ds and n => n1dx1+n2dx2=0
Cross product of n and ds => ds=n1dx2-n2dx1

U = b∫ ̅ 𝑑𝐴
𝑈 (3)
𝐴(Г)

Gδa = ∫ 𝑡𝑖 𝛿𝑢𝑖 𝑑𝑠 − 𝛿 [∫ ̅ 𝑑𝐴]

𝑈 (4)
Г 𝐴(Г)

3. Virtual crack growth, δa

The variation of the displacement of a given

material point due to the translation:

δ𝑢𝑖 (𝑥1 , 𝑥2 ) = 𝑢𝑖 (𝑥1 − 𝛿𝑎, 𝑥2 ) − 𝑢𝑖 (𝑥1 , 𝑥2 ) =

−𝑢𝑖,1 (𝑥1 , 𝑥2 )𝛿𝑎 (5)