AbstractThis paper is concerned with mesh‐free simulations of crack growth in ductile materials, which is a major technical difficulty in computational mechanics. The so‐called reproducing kernel particle method, which is a member of the mesh‐free method family, is used together with the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman constitutive model for simulation of ductile fracture. A study has been carried out to compare the proposed mesh‐free simulation with the available experimental results and previous finite element simulations for crack propagation in a three‐point‐bending steel specimen. The results show that the mesh‐free simulation agrees well with experimental results, and it is confirmed that the proposed method provides a convenient and yet accurate means for simulation of ductile fracture. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.