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A study of fatigue crack closure by elastic-plastic finite element analysis for constant-amplitude loading

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Abstract

A comprehensive elastic-plastic constitutive model is employed in a finite element analysis of fatigue crack closure. An improved node release scheme is used to simulate crack growth during cyclic loading, which eliminates the associated numerical difficulties. New definitions of crack opening and closing stresses are presented in this paper. Special attention is paid to a discussion of some basic concepts of fatigue crack growth and crack closure behaviour. Residual tensile deformation and residual compressive stress are found to be two major factors in determining the crack opening stress. A comparison of crack tip node release at the maximum or minimum load of each cycle is made and the disadvantage of releasing crack tip node at the minimum load are pointed out.

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  1. J. Wu

    Present address: Chongqing Jian Zhu University, Shapingba, Chongqing City, Sichuan Province, P.R. China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2G8, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    J. Wu & F. Ellyin

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  2. F. Ellyin
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Wu, J., Ellyin, F. A study of fatigue crack closure by elastic-plastic finite element analysis for constant-amplitude loading. Int J Fract 82, 43–65 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017863

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017863

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