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A fatigue crack growth model for interacting cracks in a plate of arbitrary thickness
Author(s) -
Chang D.,
Kotousov A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1460-2695
pISSN - 8756-758X
DOI - 10.1111/ffe.12208
Subject(s) - structural engineering , crack closure , materials science , paris' law , enhanced data rates for gsm evolution , nonlinear system , fracture (geology) , stress intensity factor , plasticity , fracture mechanics , closure (psychology) , dislocation , stress concentration , computer science , engineering , composite material , physics , market economy , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , economics
Fatigue and fracture assessment of structures weakened by multiple site damage, such as two or more interacting cracks, represents a very challenging problem. A proper analysis of this problem often requires advanced modelling approaches. The objective of this paper is to develop a general theoretical approach and investigate the fatigue behaviour of two interacting cracks. The developed approach is based on the classical strip yield model and plasticity induced crack closure concept. It also utilises the 3D fundamental solution for an edge dislocation. The crack advance scheme adopts the cycle‐by‐cycle calculations of the effective stress intensity factors and crack increments. The modelling results were validated against experimental data available in the literature. Further, the nonlinear effects of the crack interaction and plate thickness on the crack opening stresses and crack growth rates were studied with the new approach for the problem geometry. It was demonstrated that the both effects could have a significant influence on fatigue life and cannot be disregarded in life and integrity assessments of structural components with multiple site damage.