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PROCRACK‐A Software Tool for Finite Element Simulation of Three‐Dimensional Fatigue Crack Growth
Author(s) -
Ludwig Christian,
Rabold Frank,
Kuna Meinhard
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.201410076
Subject(s) - finite element method , structural engineering , stress intensity factor , paris' law , point (geometry) , software , fracture mechanics , component (thermodynamics) , crack closure , engineering , computer science , mathematics , geometry , physics , thermodynamics , programming language
The lifetime of structural components is limited by fatigue cracks. After initiation from an existing defect the crack grows subcritically until it reaches a critical size. At this point it becomes unstable and the structural component fails. PROCRACK is a powerful tool that enables the commercial finite element software Abaqus to calculate the crack propagation in pre‐cracked components. The complete capability of Abaqus can be used to simulate nearly arbitrary geometries. Abaqus/CAE is used for the three‐dimensional modeling of the initial crack at a geometrical level by means of points, lines and triangles. The numerical analysis is performed by Abaqus/Standard. PROCRACK automatically generates a tube‐shaped submodel around the crack front to calculate the stress intensity factors with high accuracy. The Paris law or the NASGRO equation can be used to calculate the incremental crack growth. The shape of the crack and the finite element mesh are updated in every crack growth step. (© 2014 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)