**4. Conclusions**

The crack propagation direction can be specified by simulation techniques such as implementing ANSYS software and ensuring the critical domain of the structure is not exceeded. In order to demonstrate the accuracy and to reveal the merits of the implementation, various numerical examples of crack growth were solved. Different issues were addressed through these examples, such as the effect of hole position on the trajectory of crack growth, mixed-mode stress intensity factors, fatigue lifecycles, and various stress distributions. Depending on the location of the crack, the presence of a hole in the geometry affects the crack and deflects it in the hole's direction, so the crack changes or even passes through the hole and grows until the hole is missing. The validation of the software results were revealed by consistent comparisons with the numerical results of crack propagation by ANSYS and the experimental results.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The author declares no conflict of interest.
