TY - EJOU AU - Providakis, C.P. TI - A Strain Energy Density Rate Approach to the BEM Analysis of Creep Fracture Problems T2 - Structural Durability \& Health Monitoring PY - 2006 VL - 2 IS - 4 SN - 1930-2991 AB - This paper explores the concept of strain energy density rate in relation to the crack initiation in fracture analysis problems arising in creeping cracked structural components. The analysis of the components is performed by using the boundary element methodology in association with the employment of singular boundary elements for the modeling of the crack tip region. The deformation of the material is assumed to be described by an elastic power law creep model. The strain energy density rate theory is applied to determine the direction of the crack initiation for a center cracked plate in tension which is subjected to Mode I loading conditions. KW - Fracture KW - Creep KW - Strain energy density rate KW - Boundary element method DO - 10.3970/sdhm.2006.002.249