The effective energy release rate at crack tip was given by using the relation between energy release rate and stress strength factor. The effective energy release rate was equal to crack growth resistance at the crack growth

and the calculation method of three-dimensional through-thickness crack growth profile based on energy model was presented according to the equality relation of effective energy release rate for the crack tip front edge; the three-dimensional through-thickness crack growth profile of different thickness specimens could be calculated by using this method

and the finite element simulation and tests for single edge crack plates of different thickness were conducted to validate the calculation method. The simulation and test results show that the method of three-dimensional through-thickness crack growth profile based on energy model can be used to calculate crack growth profile of three-dimensional structures. The "crack tunneling" of crack tip disappeares when the thicknesses of single edge crack plates increase

and the crack growth profile turns into "saddle shape". The crack growth rate at specimen surface is smaller than crack growth rate at specimen middle face.