Finite element analysis of crack closure in plate bending

The effect of crack closure in plate bending is studied using the finite element method. Elastic plates containing through-wall-thickness stationary cracks under transverse pressure loading are considered with different plate thicknesses and boundary conditions, respectively. Crack closure on the compression side is modeled two different ways: line closure and surface closure models. A plate bending element degenerated from a three-dimensional solid element is used to model such crack closure. Effects of crack closure are compared using the line or surface closure model for different plate thicknesses and boundary conditions, respectively.