Stress intensity factors (SIFs) presented in the literature for corner cracks are limited to ideal quarter‐circular and quarter‐elliptical crack shapes. This paper presents SIF solutions for corner cracks that exhibit tunnelling, extending the range of corner crack shapes illustrated in the literature. Solutions were developed in a parametric form, obtained by empirically fitting polynomials to numerical values of SIF obtained from the FEM. A parameter was defined to quantify the extent of tunnelling. It was observed that crack shape has a significant effect on the SIF, so the consideration of equivalent quarter‐circular cracks can produce inaccurate results when significant tunnelling occurs. SIF solutions for quarter‐circular cracks are also presented and compared with those quoted in the literature.

No abstract