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At least 289 records · Page 16

Methods for analysis of cracks in three-dimensional solids

Various analytical and numerical methods used to evaluate the stress intensity factors for cracks in three-dimensional (3-D) solids are reviewed. Classical exact solutions and many of the approximate methods used in 3-D analyses of cracks are reviewed. The exact solutions for embedded elliptic cracks in infinite solids are discussed. The approximate methods reviewed are the finite element methods, the boundary integral equation (BIE) method, the mixed methods (superposition of analytical and finite element method, stress difference method, discretization-error method, alternating method, finite element-alternating method), and the line-spring model. The finite element method with singularity elements is the most widely used method. The BIE method only needs modeling of the surfaces of the solid and so is gaining popularity. The line-spring model appears to be the quickest way to obtain good estimates of the stress intensity factors. The finite element-alternating method appears to yield the most accurate solution at the minimum cost.

Raju, I. S.↗

Three-Dimensional Gear Crack Propagation Studies

Three-dimensional crack growth simulation was performed on a split-tooth gear design using boundary element modeling and linear elastic fracture mechanics. Initial cracks in the fillet of the teeth produced stress intensity factors of greater magnitude (and thus, greater crack growth rates) than those in the root or groove areas of the teeth. Crack growth simulation was performed on a case study to evaluate crack propagation paths. Tooth fracture was predicted from the crack growth simulation for an initial crack in the tooth fillet region. Tooth loads on the uncracked mesh of the split-tooth design were up to five times greater than those on the cracked mesh if equal deflections of the cracked and uncracked teeth were considered. Predicted crack shapes as well as crack propagation life are presented based on calculated stress intensity factors, mixed-mode crack propagation trajectory theories, and fatigue crack growth theories.

Lewicki, David G.↗

Finite-element analysis of corner cracks in rectangular bars

Stress intensity factors for a wide range of quarter-elliptical corner cracks in rectangular bars are presented. Cracked configurations were subjected to remote tension, in-plane bending, or out-of-plane bending. Results were compared with other numerical results for a quarter-circular corner crack configuration. The present results along the interior of the crack generally agreed within 3 percent with those from the literature. Some larger differences (3 to 13 percent) were observed near the intersection of the crack front and the free surfaces in the boundary layer region. Analyses were performed to study the effect of mesh refinement in the boundary layer region and the influence of Poisson's ratio on the distribution of stress-intensity factors.

Raju, L. S.↗

Experimental and Finite Element Modeling of Near-Threshold Fatigue Crack Growth for the K-Decreasing Test Method

The experimental methods to determine near-threshold fatigue crack growth rate data are prescribed in ASTM standard E647. To produce near-threshold data at a constant stress ratio (R), the applied stress-intensity factor (K) is decreased as the crack grows based on a specified K-gradient. Consequently, as the fatigue crack growth rate threshold is approached and the crack tip opening displacement decreases, remote crack wake contact may occur due to the plastically deformed crack wake surfaces and shield the growing crack tip resulting in a reduced crack tip driving force and non-representative crack growth rate data. If such data are used to life a component, the evaluation could yield highly non-conservative predictions. Although this anomalous behavior has been shown to be affected by K-gradient, starting K level, residual stresses, environmental assisted cracking, specimen geometry, and material type, the specifications within the standard to avoid this effect are limited to a maximum fatigue crack growth rate and a suggestion for the K-gradient value. This paper provides parallel experimental and computational simulations for the K-decreasing method for two materials (an aluminum alloy, AA 2024-T3 and a titanium alloy, Ti 6-2-2-2-2) to aid in establishing clear understanding of appropriate testing requirements. These simulations investigate the effect of K-gradient, the maximum value of stress-intensity factor applied, and material type. A material independent term is developed to guide in the selection of appropriate test conditions for most engineering alloys. With the use of such a term, near-threshold fatigue crack growth rate tests can be performed at accelerated rates, near-threshold data can be acquired in days instead of weeks without having to establish testing criteria through trial and error, and these data can be acquired for most engineering materials, even those that are produced in relatively small product forms.

Smith, Stephen W.↗

Effective crack lengths by compliance measurement for ARALL-2 laminates

As a means of determining a stress intensity factor solution, the compliance properties of an ARALL-2 laminated-sheet composite were investigated. Fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) tests were conducted on middle crack tension (MT) specimens fabricated from a layup consisting of three sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum bonded together with unidirectional aramid fibers embedded in epoxy. Excellent fatigue crack growth properties are obtained by the presence of unbroken aramid fibers in the wake of the crack tip. These unbroken fibers act as a bridging mechanism to inhibit further crack growth. To quantify the effect of maximum fatigue load on compliance, a series of FCGR tests were performed. Effective crack lengths were determined to be at least 10 mm shorter than surface measured crack lengths for a 76-mm-wide specimen. The bridging zone was estimated to be at least 5 mm. Compliance and stress intensity factor as functions of effective crack length were determined.

Wilson, Christopher D.↗

Fracture problems in composite materials

A series of fracture problems in composite materials are identified, their methods of solution are briefly discussed, and some sample results are presented. The main problem of interest is the determination of the stress state in the neighborhood of localized imperfections such as cracks and inclusions which may exist in the composite. Particular emphasis is placed on the evaluation of quantities such as the stress intensity factors, the power of the stress singularity, and the strain energy release rate, which may be used directly or indirectly in connection with an appropriate fracture criterion for the prediction of fracture initiation and propagation load levels. The topics discussed include a crack in layered composites, a crack terminating at and going through a bi-material interface, a penny-shaped crack in a filament-reinforced elastic matrix, and inclusion problems in bonded materials.

Erdogan, F.↗

Fracture problems in composite materials.

In this paper a series of fracture problems in composite materials are identified, their methods of solution are briefly discussed, and some sample results are presented. The main problem of interest is the determination of the stress state in the neighborhood of localized imperfections such as cracks and inclusions which may exist in the composite. Particular emphasis is placed on the evaluation of quantities such as the stress intensity factors, the power of the stress singularity, and the strain energy release rate, which may be used directly or indirectly in connection with an appropriate fracture criterion for the prediction of fracture initiation and propagation load levels.

Erdogan, F.↗

A penny shaped crack in a filament-reinforced matrix. 2: The crack problem

The elastostatic interaction problem between a penny-shaped crack and a slender inclusion or filament in an elastic matrix was formulated. For a single filament as well as multiple identical filaments located symmetrically around the crack the problem is shown to reduce to a singular integral equation. The solution of the problem is obtained for various geometries and filament-to-matrix stiffness ratios, and the results relating to the angular variation of the stress intensity factor and the maximum filament stress are presented.

Pacella, A. H.↗

Modeling fatigue crack growth in cross ply titanium matrix composites

In this study, the fatigue crack growth behavior of fiber bridging matrix cracks in cross-ply SCS-6/Ti-15-3 and SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates containing center holes was investigated. Experimental observations revealed that matrix cracking was far more extensive and wide spread in the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates compared to that in the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates. In addition, the fatigue life of the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates was significantly longer than that of the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates. The matrix cracking observed in both material systems was analyzed using a fiber bridging (FB) model which was formulated using the boundary correction factors and weight functions for center hole specimen configurations. A frictional shear stress is assumed in the FB model and was used as a curve fitting parameter to model matrix crack growth data. The higher frictional shear stresses calculated in the SCS-6/Timetal-21S laminates resulted in lower stress intensity factors in the matrix and higher axial stresses in the fibers compared to those in the SCS-6/Ti-15-3 laminates at the same applied stress levels.

Bakuckas, J. G., Jr.↗

On the effect of quarter-point element size on fracture criteria

The effect of the quarter-point element size on the solution parameters of fracture criteria is investigated in view of its effect on the computed stress intensity factors. An analytical relationship between the error in calculating crack propagation increment and stress intensity for single mode problems is obtained while, for mixed mode problems, the investigation is based on numerical experimentation. The singular element size is found to have a substantial effect on both crack propagation angle and increment for the geometries considered.

Yehia, N. A. B.↗

Stresses in bonded materials with a crack perpendicular to the interface.

The problem of two elastic bonded half planes containing a crack perpendicular to the interface is considered. First the solution for the semi-infinite crack under concentrated wedge loading is given. Then the problem of a finite crack fully imbedded in one of the half planes of terminating at the interface is considered. The Mellin transform in conjunction with the dislocations is used to formulate the problem and to derive the integral equation. The integral equation is solved; the stress intensity factors, the crack surface displacement, and the stresses around the crack tip terminating at the interface are obtained. Noting that the power of the singularity for the interface tip of the crack is not -1/2, a tentative fracture criterion dealing with the initiation of fracture propagation is proposed.

Cook, T. S.↗

A study of crack closure in fatigue

Crack closure phenomenon in fatigue was studied by using a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. The occurrence of crack closure was directly measured by an electrical-potential method, and indirectly by load-strain measurement. The experimental results showed that the onset of crack closure depends on both the stress ratio, and the maximum stress intensity factor. No crack closure was observed for stress ratio, greater than 0.3 in this alloy. A two-dimensional elastic model was used to explain the behavior of the recorded load-strain curves. Closure force was estimated by using this model. Yield level stress was found near the crack tip. Based on this estimated closure force, the crack opening displacement was calculated. This result showed that onset of crack closure detected by electrical-potential measurement and crack-opening-displacement measurement is the same. The implications of crack closure on fatigue crack are considered. The experimental results show that crack closure cannot fully account for the effect of stress ratio, on crack growth, and that it cannot be regarded as the sole cause for delay.

Shih, T. T.↗

Fracture analysis of various cracked configurations in sheet and plate materials

A two-parameter fracture criterion was derived which relates the linear-elastic stress-intensity factor at failure, the elastic nominal failure stress, and two material parameters. The fracture criterion was used previously to analyze fracture data for surface- and through-cracked sheet and plate specimens under tensile loading. The fracture criterion was applied to center-crack tension, compact, and notch-band fracture specimens made of steel, titanium, or aluminum alloy materials tested at room temperature. The fracture data included a wide range of crack lengths, specimen widths, and thicknesses. The materials analyzed had a wide range of tensile properties. Failure stresses calculated using the criterion agreed well (plus or minus 10 percent) with experimental failure stresses. The criterion was also found to correlate fracture data from different specimen types (such as center-crack tension and compact specimens), within plus or minus 10 percent for the same material, thickness, and test temperature.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

Fracture analysis of various cracked configurations in sheet and plate materials

A two-parameter fracture criterion has been derived which relates the linear-elastic stress-intensity factor at failure, the elastic nominal failure stress, and two material parameters. The fracture criterion was applied to center-crack tension, compact, and notch-bend fracture specimens made of steel, titanium, or aluminum alloy materials tested at room temperature. The fracture data included a wide range of crack lengths, specimen widths, and thicknesses. The materials analyzed had a wide range of tensile properties. Failure stresses calculated using the criterion agreed well (plus or minus 10 percent) with experimental failure stresses. The criterion was also found to correlate fracture data from different specimen types (such as center-crack tension and compact specimens), within plus or minus 10 percent for the same material, thickness, and test temperature.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

The fracture of boron fibre-reinforced 6061 aluminium alloy

The fracture of 6061 aluminium alloy reinforced with unidirectional and cross-plied 0/90 deg, 0/90/+ or - 45 deg boron fibres has been investigated. The results have been described in terms of a critical stress intensity, K(Q). Critical stress intensity factors were obtained by substituting the failure stress and the initial crack length into the appropriate expression for K(Q). Values were obtained that depended on the dimensions of the specimens. It was therefore concluded that, for the size of specimen tested, the values of K(Q) did not reflect any basic materials property.

Wright, M. A.↗

A penny-shaped crack in a filament reinforced matrix. 1: The filament model

The electrostatic problem of a penny-shaped crack in an elastic matrix which reinforced by filaments or fibers perpendicular to the plane of the crack was studied. The elastic filament model was developed for application to evaluation studies of the stress intensity factor along the periphery of the crack, the stresses in the filaments or fibers, and the interface shear between the matrix and the filaments or fibers. The requirements expected of the model are a sufficiently accurate representation of the filament and applicability to the interaction problems involving a cracked elastic continuum with multi-filament reinforcements. The technique for developing the model and numerical examples of it are shown.

Erdogan, F.↗

A penny-shaped crack in a filament-reinforced matrix. I - The filament model. II - The crack problem

The study deals with the elastostatic problem of a penny-shaped crack in an elastic matrix which is reinforced by filaments or fibers perpendicular to the plane of the crack. An elastic filament model is first developed, followed by consideration of the application of the model to the penny-shaped crack problem in which the filaments of finite length are asymmetrically distributed around the crack. Since the primary interest is in the application of the results to studies relating to the fracture of fiber or filament-reinforced composites and reinforced concrete, the main emphasis of the study is on the evaluation of the stress intensity factor along the periphery of the crack, the stresses in the filaments or fibers, and the interface shear between the matrix and the filaments or fibers. Using the filament model developed, the elastostatic interaction problem between a penny-shaped crack and a slender inclusion or filament in an elastic matrix is formulated.

Erdogan, F.↗

Hydrogen enhanced crack growth in 18 Ni maraging steels

The kinetics of sustained-load subcritical crack growth for 18 Ni maraging steels in high-purity hydrogen are examined using the crack-tip stress intensity factor K as a measure of crack driving force. Crack growth rate as a function of stress intensity exhibited a clearly defined K-independent stage (Stage II). Crack growth rates in an 18 Ni (grade 250) maraging steel are examined for temperatures from -6 to +100 C. A critical temperature was observed above which crack growth rates became diminishingly small. At lower temperatures the activation energy for Stage II crack growth was found to be 16.7 plus or minus 3.3 kJ/mole. Temperature and hydrogen partial pressure are shown to interact in a complex manner to determine the apparent Kth (stress intensity level below which no observable crack growth occurs) and the crack growth behavior. Comparison of results on '250' and '300' grades of 18 Ni maraging steel indicate a significant influence of alloy composition and/or strength level on the crack growth behavior.

Hudak, S. J., Jr.↗