Isogeometric finite element analysis of mode I cracks within strain gradient elasticity

A variational formulation within an H^2 Sobolev space setting is formulated for fourth-order plane strain/stress boundary value problems following a widely-used one parameter variant of Mindlin's strain gradient elasticity theory. A corresponding planar mode I crack problem is solved by isogeometric C^(p-1)-continuous discretizations for NURBS basis functions of order p >= 2. Stress field singularities of the classical elasticity are shown to be removed by the strain gradient formulation.Peer reviewe