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Numerical investigation of plane strain stable crack growth under small scale yielding conditions

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5170774

Plane strain crack advance under small scale yielding conditions in elastic-perfectly plastic and power law hardening materials was investigated numerically via the finite element method. Results indicate that the stress distribution ahead of a growing crack is essentially the same as that ahead of a stationary crack, and the numerically evaluated steady state crack tip profiles reflect a vertical tangent at the extending crack tip which corresponds to the theoretically predicted outline. It was found that the increment ddelta/sub t/ in crack tip opening, when loads are increased at fixed crack length, seems to be uniquely related to dJ/sigma/sub 0/ irrespective of the amount of previous crack growth, and for increments dl of crack advance at constant external load, this quantity appears related to J/sigma/sub 0/r dl when evaluated at distance r from the tip. A discussion of proposed fracture parameters for continued crack growth (as opposed to growth initiation) is included.

Research Organization:
Brown Univ., Providence, R.I. (USA). Div. of Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
5170774
Report Number(s):
COO-3084/55; CONF-771140-3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English