Axisymmetric benchmark solutions in fracture mechanics

The paper presents benchmark solutions for problems involving axisymmetric cracks in infinite and semi-infinite elastic domains. The solutions are obtained by means of three algorithms: an axisymmetric displacement discontinuity method, an axisymmetric finite element method, and a full three-dimensional displacement discontinuity method. The benchmark examples include computation of the crack path for the near-surface propagation of a bowl-shaped crack.