A technique for modelling arbitrary discontinuities in nite elements is presented. Both discontinuities in the function and its derivatives are considered. Methods for intersecting and branching discontinuities are given. In all cases, the discontinuous approximation is constructed in terms of a signed distance functions, so level sets can be used to update the position of the discontinuities. ...

TOFD technique is based on diffraction of ultrasonic waves on the tips of discontinuities instead of reflection on the interface of discontinuities. When ultrasound is incident at linear discontinuities such as crack diffraction takes place at its extremities in addition to the usual reflected wave. The diffracted energy is emitted over a wide angular range, presumed to originate at the extremi...