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The problem of the SIF determination of internal cracks under contactloading is dealt with. An approach based on the weight function method was developed forthe determination of KI and KII . The effect of the contact and of friction between the crackfaces was taken into consideration by using approximate relations. The results werecompared with the ones obtained by finite element analyses and the agreement was foundsatisfactory, both without and with the contact between the crack faces.As possible application of the approach, the case of contact fatigue crack propagation in aautomotive gear was dealt with.