Elastic beam finite element with a transverse elasto-plastic crack

Abstract A cracked beam finite element has been formulated in this paper. The model of the element is based on elasto–plastic fracture mechanics and the finite element method. Crack tip plasticity, at the cracked cross-section, is included in the model of local flexibility. The inertia and stiffness matrices take into account the effect of flexural bending deformation due to the crack presence. The elaborated model can be applied to static, dynamic and stability analysis of cracked beam-like structures.