Development of a new software for adaptive crack growth simulations in 3D structures

A new software system called ADAPCRACK3D has been developed by the authors to predict fatigue crack growth in arbitrary 3D geometries under complex loading by the use of the finite element method. The main focus of ADAPCRACK3D is on the determination of 3D crack paths and surfaces as well as on the evaluation of components' lifetimes as a part of the damage tolerant assessment. Throughout the simulation of crack propagation an automatic adaptive mesh adaption is carried out in the vicinity of the crack front nodes. The fracture mechanical evaluation is based on a new criterion recently developed by the authors.