A polarization-optical method for studying three-dimensional problems of fracture mechanics has been developed. The method was tested to determine the values of stress intensity factors (SIF) for surface cracks in thin plates and thin shells. The data of SIF values for surface cracks of different geometry, which are subjected to different loadings, are obtained. The experimentally obtained values of SIF were compared with those calculated analytically. The efficiency of the proposed technique for solving the corresponding problems of engineering practice is shown.
