A　novel　meshless　method　of　propagation　of　cohesive　cracks　is　presented.　In　the　method,　the　crack　is　modeled　by　overlapping　crack　segments　that　are　located　only　at　the　nodes.　They　are　inserted　when　a　certain　failure　criterion　is　met.　The　crack　segments　are　perpendicular　to　the　direction　of　the　maximum　principal　stress.　They　can　rotate　during　the　coarse　of　the　simulation　when　directional　changes　in　the　maximum　principal　stress　occur.　It　will　be　shown　that　fixed　crack　models　lead　to　over-smearing　the　crack　and　too　stiff　responses　of　the　system.　The　advantage　of　this　method　is　that　it　does　not　require　algorithms　to　track　the　crack　path.　©　2008　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC.