[en] Some theoretical as well as numerical results are presented with respect to the 2D and 3D application of linear elastic fracture mechanics. The application of the finite element method to calculate the stress and strain field in cracked bodies has been discussed with special attention to: singularity representation, parameter extraction and mesh refinement. Detailed 3D stress analyses of fracture mechanics test specimen are presented showing that: the stress intensity concept cannot be extended simply into a 3D concept, the energy release concept is more promising within this aspect and the plastic region along the crackfront will not have a dogbone shape. The 3D elastic fracture mechanics concept is applied to evaluate the consequences of the thermal stresses due to γ-heating in an in-pile crack growth experiment