Dynamic　fracture　is　studied　using　a　meshless　discrete　cohesive　crack　method.　The　method　is　based　on　partition　of　unity　and　cracks　are　represented　by　a　set　of　crack　segments.　The　crack　segments　are　required　to　pass　through　the　entire　domain　of　influence　of　node.　They　are　introduced　when　the　maximum　principal　stress　exceeds　the　uniaxial　tensile　strength.　The　crack　segments　are　allowed　to　rotate　in　order　to　avoid　too　stiff　system　responses.　The　major　advantage　of　our　method　is　that　it　does　not　require　algorithms　to　track　the　crack　path.　Copyright　(C)　2009　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.