Three-dimensional fracture and fatigue crack propagation analysis in structures with multiple cracks. (1st October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dündar, Hakan; Ayhan, Ali O.
• Is Part Of: Computers & structures. Volume 158(2015)
• Page Start: 259
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2015-10-01
• Subjects: Crack propagation -- Stress intensity factor -- Multiple cracks -- Crack coalescence -- Crack interaction; Structural engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Structures, Theory of -- Periodicals; 624.171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruc.2015.06.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-7949

Abstract

Highlights: A procedure is presented for fatigue crack growth simulations of multiple cracks. Stress intensity factors are calculated using three-dimensional enriched elements. During simulations, models are re-meshed to reflect updated crack geometries. Results show excellent agreement when compared with data from the literature. The method can also handle multiple-cracks with high growth rate differences. Abstract: A methodology is presented for fracture and fatigue crack growth simulations of multiple cracks. Computed stress intensity factors and a crack growth law are used to predict incremented positions of crack front nodes. The procedure is repeated until failure criterion is reached. The cases presented in this study include structures containing two or more cracks which propagate, coalesce or grow as planar and non-planar cracks. Comparisons of results with literature data shows excellent agreement. Therefore, it is concluded that the presented procedure can be used to accurately to assess fatigue crack propagation behavior of structures with multiple three-dimensional cracks.