Computational simulation of 3D fatigue crack growth under mixed-mode loading

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to present a simulation modelling of a crack propagation trajectory in linear elastic material subjected to mixed-mode loadings and investigate the effects of the existence of a hole and geometrical thickness on fatigue crack growth and fatigue life under constant amplitude loading. For various geometry thickness, mixed-mode (I/II) fatigue crack growth studies were carried out to utilize a single edge cracked plate with three holes and compact tension shear specimens with various loading angles. Smart Crack Growth Technology, a new feature in ANSYS, was used in ANSYS Mechanical APDL 19.2 to predict the cracks’ propagation trajectory and their consequent fatigue life associated with evaluating the stress intensity factors. The maximum circumferential stress criterion is implemented as a direction criterion under linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). According to the hole position, the results demonstrate that the fatigue crack grows towards the hole due to the unbalanced stresses on the hole induced crack tip. The results of this simulation are verified in terms of crack growth paths, stress intensity factors, and fatigue life under mixed-mode load conditions, with several crack growth studies published in the literature showing consistent results.