Fracture analysis is widely used to predict component failure caused by small preexisting cracks. Results can be used to take precautions to prevent further crack growth or to determine the remaining life of the structure.

To assess the fracture damage, stress intensity factors (SIFs) must be evaluated accurately. As it is difficult to determine accurate SIFs using a closed-form analytical solution for cracks in complex structures, finite-element analysis is used instead.

The interaction integral method is used here. This method performs the SIF calculation during the solution phase of the analysis and stores the results for later postprocessing.