6. Summary of results

Calculating local \(G\) or \(K\):

• for a meshed crack, the 2 methods (LEGENDRE and LINEAIRE/LAGRANGE) give substantially the same results (less than \(\text{5 \%}\) error compared to the analytical solution) except at point \(B\) (end point of the ellipse on the major axis) where the Lagrange method is the most accurate;

• load case: the values obtained with volume loading are slightly higher than those obtained with imposed constraints (including for the values of \(G\)). The differences are minimal and due to the different numerical integrations on the volume term and the edge term;

• the \(\text{X-FEM}\) method makes it possible to evaluate the stress intensity factors \(K\) on a non-cracked mesh with an error less than \(\text{10\%}\).