For fracture mechanics the location and geometry of the crack or defect must be specified as input data. The crack geometry could be specified as an ordered set of points enclosing the crack surface.

The loading on the structure associated with the crack formation and crack propagation must be specified. If it is the same as the loading on the structure being welded, then the loading need not be repeated. The stress intensity or J-integral could be computed if that was appropriate. We plan to develop fracture analysis based on Gurson’s constitutive model or micro-macro constitutive models of fracture that are more appropriate to the heterogeneous material and geometry that is typical of welded structures.