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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fracture mechanics life analytical methods verification testing. Final report, 1 September 1991-12 September 1994

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:42798

The objective was to evaluate NASCRAC (trademark) version 2.0, a second generation fracture analysis code, for verification and validity. NASCRAC was evaluated using a combination of comparisons to the literature, closed-form solutions, numerical analyses, and tests. Several limitations and minor errors were detected. Additionally, a number of major flaws were discovered. These major flaws were generally due to application of a specific method or theory, not due to programming logic. Results are presented for the following program capabilities: K versus a, J versus a, crack opening area, life calculation due to fatigue crack growth, tolerable crack size, proof test logic, tearing instability, creep crack growth, crack transitioning, crack retardation due to overloads, and elastic-plastic stress redistribution. It is concluded that the code is an acceptable fracture tool for K solutions of simplified geometries, for a limited number of J and crack opening area solutions, and for fatigue crack propagation with the Paris equation and constant amplitude loads when the Paris equation is applicable.

Research Organization:
Nichols Research Corp., Huntsville, AL (United States)
OSTI ID:
42798
Report Number(s):
N--95-24106; NASA-CR--196555; NAS--1.26:196555; CNN: NAS8-38103
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English