A critical review of stress intensity factor solutions for surface cracks in round bars subjected to tension loading

In this paper different stress intensity factor (SIF) solutions numerically obtained by previous researchers on transversely cracked cylinders subjected to tension loading are analyzed. Solutions are compared in the matter of stress intensity values at the centre of the crack front and at the external surface of the cylinder, and a wide range of crack aspect ratios and relative crack depths are studied, in order to provide the engineer with solutions applicable to different real situations in fracture mechanics or damage tolerance analyses such as static or cyclic (fatigue) loading, environmentally assisted cracking or corrosion-fatigue.