Examination of the Optimal Local Model Size of Structure with a Surface Crack in the 3-D Local Hybrid Method

We developed the 3-D local hybrid method to evaluate the 3-D stress field inside the specimen from displacement data on the free surface obtained from the 2-D intelligent hybrid method. When a uniform load was applied to the structure with a surface crack, high accuracy was already acquired in stress analyses. The 3-D local hybrid method was newly applied to structure with a surface crack which is subjected to bending load. It is expected that the accuracy depends on local model size. In this study, the width, the thickness and the height of the local model were changed widely, and analyses were carried out. Then the size of the local model necessary for the analyses was examined. Assessment of analyses was performed by comparing J integral value of a full model and the local model.