A study on XFEM simulation of tensile, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth behavior of Al 2024 alloy through fatigue crack growth rate models using genetic algorithm

Abstract

This study aims to numerically validate and simulate the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR), tensile, and fracture toughness properties of T3 and T351 tempered aerospace grade Al 2024 alloy. The extended finite element method (XFEM) coupled with a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to predict FCGR behavior in the framework of an in-house developed MATLAB code. The numerical simulation was performed using three different FCGR models, i.e., Paris, Forman, and Nasgro. The FCGR prediction ability of simulation models was improved and compared further using GA. The Nasgro model with genetically optimized parameters shows the highest FCGR prediction accuracy compared to other FCGR models. The critical stress intensity factor and von Mises stress distribution under static loading were also predicted for C(T) specimen. A similar XFEM approach was used for analyzing the tensile behavior using a center cracked specimen at the gage section of a dog bone-shaped specimen.