Fatigue crack growth simulation using S-FEM

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth under mixed mode loading conditions is simulated using Superimposed-FEM (S-FEM). By using S-FEM technique, only local mesh should be re meshed and it becomes easy to simulate crack growth. By combining with re meshing technique, local mesh is re-meshed automatically, and curved crack path is modeled easily. At first, slant crack problem is solved. It is shown that results agree with conventional solutions, and verified the availability of this technique. Then two crack problems are solved in several cases by changing each crack location. Stress intensity factors are evaluated and interaction effect between two cracks is discussed. Results are compared with crack coalescence criteria, and it is verified that these criteria are reasonable ones.