The effect of damping and force application point on the non-linear dynamic behavior of a cracked beam at sub-and superresonance vibrations

The finite element model of an elastic body with a closing crack is presented. Using this model, we show that the non-linear distortions of vibrations at superharmonic and subharmonic resonances are the high sensitive indicators of crack presence. The intensity of these indicators manifestation substantially depends on the level of damping in the system and on the load application point. __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 5, pp. 61–67, September–October, 2006. Report on International Conference “Dynamics, Strength, and Life of Machines and Structures” (1–4 November 2006, Kiev, Ukraine).     

On determination of vibration characteristics of a beam with a closing crack in bending vibrations

We consider free vibrations of an elastic cantilever beam with an edge crack, which is simulated as a beam portion with a decreased moment of inertia. The weight of this portion is assumed to be constant, while the dimensions of the portion are determined by the energy criterion of equivalence. We propose an analytical approach to determination of natural frequencies and vibration modes, of a beam with an open or closing crack and to investigation of nonlinear distortions of the displacement wave and acceleration and deformation of various sections of a beam with a closing crack. The solution allows for the possibility that more than one vibration mode of a beam can be generated at the moment of the crack opening and includes the effect of the crack on the strain distribution in the beam volume. It is demonstrated that the approach we propose gives reliable relationships between various vibration characteristics of a beam and the crack parameters and makes it possible to solve an inverse problem of damage diagnostics. Institute of Problems of Strength, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 3, pp. 5–23, May–June, 2000.     

An improved crack tracking algorithm with self-correction ability of the crack path and its application in a continuum damage model

In this paper, a new procedure for predicting the crack propagation and fracture behavior in quasi-brittle materials is presented based on continuum damage mechanics. Several crack tracking algorithms are widely used for failure analysis, among which the local tracking algorithm is very simple and easy to implement with low computational cost. However, in the prediction of crack growth with the traditional local tracking algorithm, it can be often seen that the sharp changes in the crack path such as U-turns can occur. An improved local tracking algorithm with self-correction ability of the crack path is proposed to overcome these difficulties of the traditional crack tracking algorithms. A continuum damage model, in addition to the present crack tracking algorithm, can greatly enhance the performance of failure prediction in quasi-brittle materials. The present approach has the advantages that it can well predict the crack propagation path and can avoid mesh size and mesh bias dependence without the embedment of discontinuities or nodal enrichment. The present model is incorporated into ANSYS by the ANSYS Parameter Design Language to simulate the initiation and propagation of the discrete crack in engineering applications. The numerical results by this model are compared with the ones by the extended finite element method and experiments, and good agreements are achieved.     

A model for evaluating the effect of fatigue crack repair by the infiltration method

Infiltration of foreign materials into a fatigue crack has previously been shown to be able to retard the crack and extend fatigue life. Most of the related studies were empirical and phenomenological in nature. To aid engineering decisions, it would be advantageous if the possible outcome of a repair can be evaluated beforehand. To this end, a crack closure model taking into account the additional closure effect of the infiltrant has been developed and verified against experimental results. With this model, the sensitivity of the repair effect to various parameters such as mechanical properties of the infiltrant, depth of penetration and infiltration load level can be assessed.     

A continuous-discontinuous model for crack branching

A new continuous-discontinuous model for fracture that accounts for crack branching in a natural manner is presented. It combines a gradient-enhanced damage model based on nonlocal displacements to describe diffuse cracks and the extended finite element method (X-FEM) for sharp cracks. Its most distinct feature is a global crack tracking strategy based on the geometrical notion of medial axis: the sharp crack propagates following the direction dictated by the medial axis of a damage isoline. This means that, if the damage field branches, the medial axis automatically detects this bifurcation, and a branching sharp crack is thus easily obtained. In contrast to other existing models, no special crack-tip criteria are required to trigger branching. Complex crack patterns may also be described with this approach, since the X-FEM enrichment of the displacement field can be recursively applied by adding one extra term at each branching event. The proposed approach is also equipped with a crack-fluid pressure, a relevant feature in applications such as hydraulic fracturing or leakage-related events. The capabilities of the model to handle propagation and branching of cracks are illustrated by means of different two-dimensional numerical examples.     

Vibrodiagnostic parameters of fatigue damage in rectangular plates. Part 1. A procedure of determination of damage parameters

We describe a procedure of approximate analytical determination of fatigue damage parameters of rectangular plates. As an initial damage characteristic we apply the relative value of the plate potential-strain-energy variation due to availability of a Mode I crack, and, based on this value, we find relations for determination of the plate natural frequency variation, as well as parameters of distortion of monoharmonic oscillations in the modes of main resonance and superharmonic resonance of the 2nd order.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 6, pp. 5–16, November–December, 2004     

A fatigue crack growth model for interacting cracks in a plate of arbitrary thickness

Fatigue and fracture assessment of structures weakened by multiple site damage, such as two or more interacting cracks, represents a very challenging problem. A proper analysis of this problem often requires advanced modelling approaches. The objective of this paper is to develop a general theoretical approach and investigate the fatigue behaviour of two interacting cracks. The developed approach is based on the classical strip yield model and plasticity induced crack closure concept. It also utilises the 3D fundamental solution for an edge dislocation. The crack advance scheme adopts the cycle‐by‐cycle calculations of the effective stress intensity factors and crack increments. The modelling results were validated against experimental data available in the literature. Further, the nonlinear effects of the crack interaction and plate thickness on the crack opening stresses and crack growth rates were studied with the new approach for the problem geometry. It was demonstrated that the both effects could have a significant influence on fatigue life and cannot be disregarded in life and integrity assessments of structural components with multiple site damage.     

Approximate analytical determination of vibrodiagnostic parameters of a cracked elastic body under subharmonic resonance. Part 1. Weak resonance

The paper discusses an approximate analytical method for the calculation of vibrodiagnostic parameters of an elastic body with a closing crack, which is modeled by an elastic system with a single degree of freedom at a bilinear asymmetric characteristic of the restoring force, in the region of a weak 1/2-order subharmonic resonance. __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 2, pp. 26–40, March–April, 2008.     

A stochastic damage accumulation model for crack initiation in high-cycle fatigue

A stochastic damage accumulation model for crack initiation in high-cycle fatigue is proposed. It is assumed that the fatigue damage is accumulated in the form of dislocations under the repeated stress and that the slip band crack is initiated when the strain energy due to a local pile-up of dislocations exceeds a critical value. The size of an initiating crack is the cell size, derived from a probabilistic argument and its depth is determined in relation to the stored dislocation energy. Our theoretical results are compared with the experimental data from a low-carbon steel S20C in order to examine the consistency of our model.     

裂尖具线性分布约束应力的运动裂纹模型及其解析解

以恒定速度运动的Griffith裂纹解析解为著名的Yoffe解。静止裂纹的条状屈服模型即Dugdale模型,将其推广到运动裂纹模型时发现,当裂纹运动速度跨越Rayliegh波速时,裂纹张开位移COD趋于(∞,且表现为间断。通过在裂尖引入一个约束应力区及两个速度效应函数,假设约束应力为线性分布,采用复变函数方法,求得动态应力强度因子SIF与裂纹张开位移COD的解析解。新的结果,在Rayleigh波速下裂纹张开位移连续且为有限值。给出裂纹张开位移的一些数值结果,获得了一些有意义的结论。     

基于弹性力学的裂缝梁自由振动分析

基于弹性力学平面应力理论,采用Chebyshev-Ritz法分析裂缝梁的自由振动特性。将梁分成三个子梁,取边界函数与Chebyshev多项式的乘积作为每个子梁的位移试函数,保证解的快速收敛性,并使该方法适用于不同的几何边界条件。用里兹法列出每个子梁的振动特征方程,并根据各子梁在界面上的位移连续性条件得到整个裂缝梁的振动特征方程。计算结果与文献数据和有限元分析吻合很好。最后分析了裂缝深度和梁的高跨比对动力特性的影响。     

Vibrodiagnostic parameters of fatigue damage in rectangular plates. Part 2. Straight cracks of constant depth

The paper discusses the results of analytical determination of vibrodiagnostic parameters of fatigue damage in the form of Mode I straight cracks of constant depth in a rectangular homogeneous uniform-thickness plate with various plate fastening conditions and vibration modes. It is demonstrated that, in the range of the relative crack depth up to 0.3, the parameter of distortion of vibration monoharmonicity in the 2nd-order superharmonic resonant mode is one-two orders of magnitude higher than the value of a relative change of the plates natural frequency.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 1, pp. 43–59, January–February, 2005.     

A model for fatigue crack growth in a threshold region

The prediction of fatigue crack growth at very low ΔK values, and in particular for the threshold region, is important in design and in many engineering applications. A simple model for cyclic crack propagation in ductile materials is discussed and the expression

$\text{da}\text{dN}\text{=}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{1+n}}\text{(1?2v)(ΔK}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{eff}}\text{?ΔK}{}^2{}_{\mathrm{c,eff}}\text{)}\text{4(1+n)π σ}{}^{\mathrm{1?n}}{}_{\mathrm{yc}}\text{E}{}^{\mathrm{1+n}}\text{?}{}^{\mathrm{1+n}}{}_{\mathrm{f}}$

developed. Here, n is the cyclic strain hardening exponent, σ_yc is cyclic yield, and ε_f is the true fracture strain. The model is successfully used in the analysis of fatigue data BS 4360-50D steel.     

A cumulative model of fatigue crack growth and the crack closure effect

A model of fatigue crack growth based on an analysis of elastic/plastic stress and strain at the crack tip is presented. It is shown that the fatigue crack growth rate can be calculated using the local stress/strain at the crack tip by assuming that a small highly strained area $\text{x}{}^1$, existing at the crack tip, is responsible for the fatigue crack growth, and that the fatigue crack growth may be regarded as the cumulation of successive crack re-initiations over a distance $\text{x}{}^1$. It is shown that crack closure can be modelled using the effective contact zone g behind the crack tip. The model allows the fatigue crack growth rate over the near threshold and linear ranges of the general da/dN versus ΔK curve to be calculated. The fatigue crack growth retardation due to overload and fatigue crack arrest can also be analysed in terms of g and $\text{x}{}^1$.Calculated fatigue crack growth rates are compared with experimental ones for low and high strength steel.     

Examination of the fatigue crack growth equations

Most of the crack growth equations proposed so far correlate the crack growth rate (da/dN or da/dt) with crack tip parameters such as the stress intensity factor (SIF) or energy release rate (ERR). In our previous works, an experimental setup was designed to examine the applicability and the boundary of the functional relationship between da/dN and the crack tip parameters, particularly, ERR. In the present paper, the variation of the ERR along the experimentally observed curvilinear crack trajectories is obtained by means of the finite element method. The analysis shows that the Paris-Erdogan type of laws are applicable until the crack tip is located outside the strong crack-defect interaction region (SI region). A functional relationship between da/dN and ERR breaks down within this region. This suggests the existence of additional crack tip parameters that are not accounted for within conventional fracture mechanics. An approach to modeling the observed phenomenon is discussed following the concept of the Crack Layer theory.     

Stochastic modelling of crack propagation in materials with random properties using isometric mapping for dimensionality reduction of nonlinear data sets

Fractures tend to propagate along the least resistance paths, and homogeneous‐based models may not be able to reliably predict the true crack paths, as they are not capable of capturing nonlinearities and local damage induced by local inhomogeneity. This paper presents a stochastic numerical modelling framework for simulating fracturing in natural heterogeneous materials. Fracture propagation is modelled using Francfort and Marigo's variational theory, and randomness in the material properties is introduced by random field principle. A computational strategy on the basis of nonlinear dimensionality reduction framework is developed that maps domain of spatially variable properties of the materials to a low‐dimensional space. This strategy allows us to predict the most probable fracture patterns leading to failure by an optimisation algorithm. The reliability and performance of the developed methodology are examined through simulation of experimental case studies and comparison of predictions with measured data.     

The simulation of crack opening–closing and aggregate interlock behaviour in finite element concrete models

The ability to model crack‐closure behaviour and aggregate interlock in finite element concrete models is extremely important. Both of these phenomena arise from the same contact mechanisms, and the advantages of modelling them in a unified manner are highlighted. An example illustrating the numerical difficulties that arise when abrupt crack closure is modelled is presented, and the benefits of smoothing this behaviour are discussed. We present a new crack‐plane model that uses an effective contact surface derived directly from experimental data and which is described by a signed‐distance function in relative‐displacement space. The introduction of a crack‐closure transition function into the formulation improves its accuracy and enhances its robustness. The characteristic behaviour of the new smoothed crack‐plane model is illustrated for a series of relative‐displacement paths. We describe a method for incorporating the model into continuum elements using a crack‐band approach and address a previously overlooked issue associated with scaling the inelastic shear response of a crack band. A consistent algorithmic tangent and associated stress recovery procedure are derived. Finally, a series of examples are presented, demonstrating that the new model is able to represent a range of cracked concrete behaviour with good accuracy and robustness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A tensile crack in creeping solids with large damage near the crack tip

An asymptotic analysis of stationary mode I crack in creeping solids with large damage near crack tip is conducted. To consider the damage effect, Kachanov damage evolution law is utilized and incorporated into the power-law creep constitutive equation. With the compatibility equation, a nonlinear eigenvalue problem which can be solved by numerical approaches is established. From this result, the distribution of stress and strain rate are obtained with the coupling effect of damage and creep under plane stress condition. Also the influence of material parameters on the stress is examined. According to the result, it is shown that the creep exponent n and damage parameter (=/(1+k)) have a significant effect on determining the eigenvalue s and angular distribution of stress and strain rate near the crack tip. The creep exponent n plays the role to soften and damage parameter plays the role to harden the material near the crack tip. The stress and strain rate show quite different behavior from those of HRR problem.