Non‐oscillatory and non‐singular asymptotic solutions to stress fields at interface cracks

This work concerns the complex oscillatory singularities revealed in Williams's asymptotic solutions to stress fields around arbitrary interface cracks, which are the foundation of phenomenological interface fracture mechanics. First, we highlight the fatal discrepancy between the asymptotic stress fields for cracks in a homogeneous material obtained by assigning an identical material on both regions embracing an interface crack, and the solutions directly derived from cracks in a single material. Next, following a brief introduction to Williams's formulation process, we adopt the method of repeatedly eliminating variables instead of solving the determinant equation for the coefficient matrix to reformulate the asymptotic analysis of stress fields at arbitrary interface cracks. The resultant stresses get rid of oscillatory character. Further, under two specific loading conditions, namely, remotely uniaxial tension or shear, non‐oscillatory and non‐singular asymptotic solutions to stress fields around interface cracks are obtained.     

Creep crack growth modeling and near tip stress fields

The problem of near tip stress fields in a cracked body subjected to Mode I loading at elevated temperatures is studied. Specifically, the superalloy, IN 718, is examined in the standard compact tension specimen geometry. The simulation is at 650°C. The specimen is assumed to be under dead load conditions. For a stationary crack, the near tip stress fields are calculated and compared with the asymptotic solutions available in the literature. While the results assuming small strains agree very well with the asymptotic solutions, the large strain analysis does not. The results indicate that both the amplitude and the asymptotic exponent are dependent on the applied load level which is in disagreement with the asymptotic predictions. In addition, the zone effected by creep deformation is larger when large strains are considered. An algorithm is developed and tested for the modeling of stable crack growth. Both convergence and stability are investigated. Explicit time integration is used for crack growth studies as it is demonstrated to be computationally more efficient. The algorithm is employed to study the near tip stress fields for a growing crack. The near tip stress fields for a growing crack (with constant velocity) are generated using the developed algorithm. The results demonstrate that the asymptotic behavior of the stress field is load dependent. Comparison is made with the limited analyses available. Recommendations for future research are discussed.     

Dominance of asymptotic crack tip fields in elastic functionally graded materials

The stress field surrounding an edge crack in an elastic functionally graded plate is calculated using two dimensional finite element analysis. The property gradient direction is parallel to the crack line and loading is constrained to be symmetric such that a pure mode I situation is achieved. The extent of dominance of asymptotic fields is evaluated by comparing the stress field calculated from the finite element analysis to that calculated by asymptotic equations. Two separate forms of the asymptotic stress fields, one for homogeneous materials and another for continuously nonhomogeneous materials are used. The shape and extent of the dominance regions of each asymptotic field and their dependence on crack length and material nonhomogeneity is also presented. Under the pure mode I conditions considered here, it is seen that both asymptotic fields exist around the crack tip with the one for homogeneous materials in general being embedded in the one for continuously nonhomogeneous materials. The ligament length is seen to primarily control the extent of development of the asymptotic stress field for nonhomogeneous materials. The steepness of the material gradient affects the relationship between the two asymptotic stress fields and therefore the extent of their dominance.     

Determination of K Id at or below NDTT using instrumented drop-weight testing

Two kinds of surface cracked specimens are numerically analyzed by the three dimensional elastic-plastic FEM. Near tip regions are divided into fine elements, and the stress and displacement fields at the crack tip are compared with HRR solutions.At first, surface cracked specimens subjected to bending are analyzed by changing the aspect ratio and depth/thickness ratio. The effect of the loading condition, crack shape and the crack depth on the stress and displacement fields are discussed. Then the pipe with surface crack subjected to bending is analyzed and the availability of the J-integral concept to the LBB analysis is discussed.In every specimen, it is shown that in the regions very near to the crack tip, the displacement field is similar to HRR solutions of plane strain. In the outer regions, however, the stress and displacement fields depend strongly on the shape, thickness, and loading conditions.     

Asymptotic and finite element analyses of mode III dynamic crack growth at a ductile-brittle interface

In this work, dynamic crack growth along a ductile-brittle interface under anti-plane strain conditions is studied. The ductile solid is taken to obey the J ₂ flow theory of plasticity with linear isotropic strain hardening, while the substrate is assumed to exhibit linear elastic behavior. Firstly, the asymptotic near-tip stress and velocity fields are derived. These fields are assumed to be variable-separable with a power singularity in the radial coordinate centered at the crack tip. The effects of crack speed, strain hardening of the ductile phase and mismatch in elastic moduli of the two phases on the singularity exponent and the angular functions are studied. Secondly, full-field finite element analyses of the problem under small-scale yielding conditions are performed. The validity of the asymptotic fields and their range of dominance are determined by comparing them with the results of the full-field finite element analyses. Finally, theoretical predictions are made of the variations of the dynamic fracture toughness with crack velocity. The influence of the bi-material parameters on the above variation is investigated.     

有限宽中心裂纹板在裂纹面受一对偏心反平面集中力的弹塑性分析

有限宽裂纹板的弹塑性分析是弹塑性断裂力学中最困难的问题之一。本文对有限宽裂纹板在裂纹面任意点受一对反平面集中力的情形采用裂纹线场分析方法,将各场量在裂纹线附近展开,利用平衡方程和屈服准则进行弹塑性分析,这种分析不需要作小范围屈服的假定。通过裂纹线上的弹塑性应力场在弹塑性边界上进行匹配得出荷载与裂纹线上塑性区长度之间的关系,进而分析得出荷载的不同位置和板宽所对应的临界荷载。     

On higher order parameters in cracked composite plates under far‐field pure shear

This paper presents the analytical solution of the crack tip fields as well as the crack parameters in an infinitely large composite plate with a central crack subjected to pure shear loading. To this end, the complex variable method is employed to formulate an asymptotic solution for the crack tip fields in an anisotropic plane. Using a stress‐based definition of the crack tip modes of loading, only the mode II crack parameters are found to be non‐zero under pure shear load. Special focus is given to the determination of the higher order parameters of the crack tip asymptotic field, particularly the first non‐singular term, ie, the T‐stress. Unlike the isotropic materials, in which the T‐stress is zero under pure shear, it is found that the T‐stress is non‐zero for the case of anisotropic materials, being the only material‐dependent crack tip stress parameter. The veracity of our exact crack tip fields is assessed and verified through a comparison made with respect to the finite element (FE) solution. Finally, we demonstrate the significance of the T‐stress on stresses near the crack tip in composite plates under pure shear loads.     

A through interface crack between a ±45° transversely isotropic pair of materials

In this study, the first term of the asymptotic displacement and stress fields is determined analytically for a straight through crack along the interface between a ±45° transversely isotropic pair of materials. Since with this configuration, there is full coupling between the modes, this problem requires a three-dimensional treatment. To calculate stress intensity factors, a three-dimensional M-integral is derived using the asymptotic fields as auxiliary solutions. The displacement extrapolation method is derived as well, and used to check the results obtained by the M-integral. Two numerical test cases are employed to examine the accuracy of both methods. Results obtained for other mechanical problems are presented as well.     

The continuous crack flexibility model for crack identification

The presence of a crack in a structural member introduces a local flexibility that affects its dynamic response. Moreover, the crack will open and close in time depending on the loading conditions and vibration amplitude. The changes in dynamic characteristics can be measured and lead to an identification of the structural changes which eventually might lead to the detection of a structural flaw. The results of various independent evaluations of changes in the natural frequency of vibrations of cracked structural elements are reported. A crack model of a continuous flexibility, found with fracture mechanics methods using the displacement field in the vicinity of the crack developed recently is used here. The analytical results for the cracked elements behaviour based on the continuous crack flexibility vibration theory were correlated with numerical solutions, the lumped-crack beam vibration analysis and experimental results obtained on aluminium and steel beams with open cracks.     

Determination of Stress Intensity Factor for Cracks in Orthotropic Composite Materials using Digital Image Correlation

Abstract: This paper focuses on the application of the digital image correlation (DIC) technique to determine the stress intensity factor (SIF) for cracks in orthotropic composites. DIC is a full‐field technique for measuring the surface displacements of a deforming object and can be applied to any type of material. To determine the SIF from full‐field displacement data, the asymptotic expansion of the crack‐tip displacement field is required. In this paper the expansion of the crack tip displacement field is derived from an existing solution for strain fields. Unidirectional fibre composite panels with an edge crack aligned along the fibre were tested under remote tensile loading and the displacements were recorded using DIC. The SIF was calculated from the experimental data by fitting the theoretical displacement field using the least squares method. The SIF thus determined was in good agreement with theoretical results and therefore demonstrates the applicability of the derived displacement field and DIC technique for studying fracture in composites.     

The T-stress solutions for through-wall circumferential cracks in cylinders subjected to general loading conditions

The elastic T-stress is a parameter used to define the level of constraint at a crack tip. It is important to provide T-stress solutions for practical geometries to apply the constraint-based fracture mechanics methodology. In the present work, T-stress solutions are provided for circumferential through-wall cracks in thin-walled cylinders. First, cylinders with a circumferential through-wall crack were analyzed using the finite element method. Three cylinder geometries were considered; defined by the mean radius of the cylinder (R) to wall thickness (t) ratios: R/t = 5, 10, and 20. The T-stress was obtained at eight crack lengths (θ/π = 0.0625, 0.1250, 0.1875, 0.2500, 0.3125, 0.3750, 0.4375, and 0.5000, θ is the crack half angle). Both crack face loading and remote loading conditions were considered including constant, linear, parabolic and cubic crack face pressures and remote tension and bending. The results for constant and linear crack face pressure were used to derive weight functions for T-stress for the corresponding cracked geometries. The weight functions were validated against several linear and non-linear stress distributions. The derived weight functions are suitable for T-stress calculations for circumferential cracks in cylinders under complex stress fields.     

Stress intensity factors for through-thickness cracks in a wide plate: Derivation and application to arbitrary weld residual stress fields

Exact closed-form stress intensity factor (SIF) solutions have been developed for mode-I, II and III through-thickness cracks in an infinite plate. Centre-crack problems have been analysed comprehensively in the literature, but the focus has been on the effect of simple loading about the crack centre. In the current work, the formula of Sih-Paris-Erdogan was extended to consider the difference in SIF on the left and right crack tips under an asymmetric stress field. Mathematical manipulations were performed to derive exact stress magnification factors for SIF computations and simultaneously circumvent the problem of crack-tip stress singularity. The solutions so obtained are applied to derive the residual SIFs that would act on a crack growing under the influence of the residual stress fields associated with VPPA (variable polarity plasma arc) and friction stir welds, using measured residual stress profiles.     

Similarities of stress concentrations in contact at round punches and fatigue at notches: implications to fretting fatigue crack initiation

A linear elastic model of the stress concentration due to contact between a rounded flat punch and a homogeneous substrate is presented, with the aim of investigating fretting fatigue crack initiation in contacting parts of vibrating structures including turbine engines. The asymptotic forms for the stress fields in the vicinity of a rounded punch-on-flat substrate are derived for both normal and tangential loading, using both analytical and finite element methods. Under the action of the normal load, P , the ensuing contact is of width 2 b which includes an initial flat part of width 2 a . The asymptotic stress fields for the sharply rounded flat punch contact have certain similarities with the asymptotic stress fields around the tip of a blunt crack. The analysis showed that the maximum tensile stress, which occurs at the contact boundary due to tangential load Q , is proportional to a mode II stress intensity factor of a sharp punch divided by the square root of the additional contact length due to the roundness of the punch, Q /(√( b − a )√ π b ). The fretting fatigue crack initiation can then be investigated by relating the maximum tensile stress with the fatigue endurance stress. The result is analogous to that of Barsom and McNicol where the notched fatigue endurance stress was correlated with the stress intensity factor and the square root of the notch-tip radius. The proposed methodology establishes a 'notch analogue' by making a connection between fretting fatigue at a rounded punch/flat contact and crack initiation at a notch tip and uses fracture mechanics concepts. Conditions of validity of the present model are established both to avoid yielding and to account for the finite thickness of the substrate. The predictions of the model are compared with fretting fatigue experiments on Ti–6Al–4V and shown to be in good agreement.     

An approximation for the cyclic state of stress ahead of cracks and its implications under fatigue crack growth

Numerical methods are mostly used in the field of fatigue to derive the stress intensity factor (SIF) or J-integral solutions to be employed in damage tolerance analysis of cracked components. In this frame, simple assumptions about material properties are taken into account.More refined approaches try to describe the plasticity-induced crack closure in order to account for retardation effects under variable amplitude loading. In these approaches, the cyclic plasticity is used and cyclic finite element analyses are carried out.In the present work, a novel strategy is presented for the calculation of the relevant parameters to the fatigue crack growth, based on the evaluation of local field parameters (J-integral, T-stress) and cyclic material properties. It is demonstrated that, in case of mild steels and under the assumption of a stress ratio R = −1, the global constraint factor α_g widely employed in fatigue crack growth algorithms such as the strip-yield model, can be calculated in a closed-form on the basis of the expression of the crack-tip fields. Moreover, α_g provides a reasonable explanation of the fatigue crack growth behaviour of the A1N steel for different geometrical and loading configurations. Further investigations carried out on different medium and high strength steel grades show that the plastic radius ahead of small and long cracks at their fatigue limits can be considered as a constant for the material.     

Fatigue crack closure study based on whole-field displacements

This study is concerned with crack tip strain field fluctuations at loads below the point of crack closure in fatigue cycling. Moiré interferometry was used to investigate crack tip fields in compact tension specimens, cracked under constant stress intensity range and fixed R-ratio conditions. An elastic-plastic finite element model of simulated closure was developed to provide a theoretical cross-reference for the moiré studies. The ‘stretched zone’, which is believed to be the most significant source of closure effects, was simulated by inserting a constant thickness strip of elements into the crack before unloading from the maximum load point. Analysis of the crack tip fields in the experimental and theoretical cases was made in terms of crack face opening profiles, compliance changes and elastic stress intensity parameters. The latter were inferred through stress and displacement measurements made along circular and radial paths relative to the crack tip. Closure on the stretched zone was found to generate non-proportional loading in the crack tip field, so that the resulting stress changes were not well characterized by the asymptotic elastic equations. It is concluded firstly, that significant strain fluctuations occur below the point of closure load and that these should not be ignored in crack propagation studies. Secondly, the effective stress intensity range in fatigue cycling is not simply related to the open-crack stress intensity range and the need therefore remains for R-ratio and geometry effects to be treated as variables in crack propagation data collection programmes.     

A complex variable approach for asymptotic Mode-III crack-tip fields in an anisotropic functionally graded material

This paper addresses asymptotic full crack-tip fields for an anti-plane (Mode-III) stationary crack in an anisotropic functionally graded material. A monoclinic material that has a material symmetry plane is considered. The complex variable approach and the asymptotic analysis are used to solve a perturbed Laplace equation resulting from material anisotropy and gradation. The out-of-plane displacement and stress solutions are provided for a crack in exponentially and linearly graded anisotropic materials by considering material gradation either parallel or perpendicular to the crack. The characteristics of the asymptotic solutions in an anisotropic functionally graded material are compared with those for anisotropic homogeneous and isotropic graded materials. Finally, engineering significance of the present work is discussed.     

On the dominance of the singular dynamic crack tip stress field under high rate loading

The dynamic stress field near a running crack tip is investigated using photoelasticity and caustics. Both quasistatic and dynamic impact loads were considered. Under impact loading, it was found that the range of dominance of the singular term in the asymptotic crack tip stress field expansion was very small. The need for considering higher order transient terms in interpreting the isochromatic fringes is demonstrated. Also, the importance of considering the effect of the higher order transient terms in the characterization of failure criteria is discussed.     

A crack tip field estimation technique for the high-temperature cyclic loading of structures

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for the assessment of the near‐crack tip fields in structures operating at elevated temperatures in the creep range and subjected to cyclic mechanical and thermal loads. The method involves generating simplified extreme solutions, which corresponds to very short (rapid cycle) and long (slow cycle) cycle times, bounding the behaviour for intermediate cycle times. In such situations, by examining the increments of strain over a cycle of loading at the crack tip, the solutions may be related to the HRR fields and, hence, related to an equivalent constant load. Here, these solutions are generated using a nonlinear programming method, the linear matching method (LMM), on two bounding constitutive relationships with identical uniaxial data, Norton's law and the Bailey–Orowan model. These solutions are generated for the classical cracked axisymmetric Bree problem, presented as a contour of an equivalent path‐independent integral in creep, C*, by using a sampling point within an identified best‐matched HRR field.     

Consideration of the mechanical behaviour of small fatigue cracks

The mechanical behaviour of small fatigue cracks is investigated for a low, medium and high strength material. At first an elastic consideration is performed which give a good impression how the stress fields change with crack size. In part 2 a full elastic-plastic analysis of short cracks is performed using a new numerical scheme to simulate the growth of shear bands emanating from the crack tip. The influence of material and loading paramters as well as of the crack size on the plastic crack tip opening displacement is discussed. It is also investigated how it is possible to get a conservative estimate of the crack tip deformation at small cracks.     

Effect of loading rate on dynamic fracture initiation toughness of brittle materials

Numerical simulation is carried out to investigate the effect of loading rate on dynamic fracture initiation toughness including the crack-tip constraint. Finite element analyses are performed for a single edge cracked plate whose crack surface is subjected to uniform pressure with various loading rate. The first three terms in the Williams’ asymptotic series solution is utilized to characterize the crack-tip stress field under dynamic loads. The coefficient of the third term in Williams’ solution, A ₃, was utilized as a crack tip constraint parameter. Numerical results demonstrate that (a) the dynamic crack tip opening stress field is well represented by the three term solution at various loading rate, (b) the loading rate can be reflected by the constraint, and (c) the constraint A ₃ decreases with increasing loading rate. To predict the dynamic fracture initiation toughness, a failure criterion based on the attainment of a critical opening stress at a critical distance ahead of the crack tip is assumed. Using this failure criterion with the constraint parameter, A ₃, fracture initiation toughness is determined and in agreement with available experimental data for Homalite-100 material at various loading rate.