Interactive finite element analysis of fracture processes: An integrated approach

doi:10.1016/0167-8442(87)90007-3

Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics

Volume 8, Issue 2, October 1987, Pages 137-150

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8442(87)90007-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

A fracture analysis program has been developed which incorporates the concepts of finite element analysis, fracture mechanics, computer graphics, finite element postprocessing, automatic mesh generation, and data base design. The program FRANC (FRacture ANalysis Code) is a tool which allows a practicing engineer or a researcher to perform an incremental fracture analysis at his desk. The program draws on a substantial experience base and this paper describes the philosophy of the program and the integration of its parts. Also, a number of example problems will be presented which show some results of incremental fracture analyses.

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Citation Excerpt :
The preprocessing feature must be considered as a combination of coding and input techniques which greatly relieve the users from the tedious portion of checking tasks while enhancing the creative aspects of designing and modelling. Wawrzynek and Ingraffea [20] added that by integrating aspects of finite element analysis, fracture mechanics, mesh generation, post-processing, computer graphics, and data base design, it may become possible to develop a powerful investigatory tool. As computational fracture mechanics becomes more well-developed, the integrated programming solutions essentially become a necessity.
Many failure investigations related to the failed round bars/shafts for various applications have been reported in literature. The cracks were often initiated at the regions with a high stress concentration. However, numerical fracture mechanics was frequently not used in the failure investigations. Nowadays advancement of computational development on the interactive numerical techniques allows the analysts to more accessibly figure out the fracture phenomena when performing engineering analyses. In addition, the computational cost is no longer the issue of performing numerical fracture mechanics analyses. The stress intensity factors (SIFs) of a surface planar flaw at a stepped round bar are of practical interest, however, the SIF solutions along the flaw front were not yet documented in literature. Here, the practical abilities of the numerical fracture mechanics on the fracture analyses are demonstrated by evaluating a planar surface flaw at the shoulder fillet through numerical simulations by the finite element method (FEM) and the dual boundary element method (DBEM). The use of tetrahedral meshing of FEM is presented, and the concern of corner point singularity on a surface planar flaw is highlighted. The stress contours around the front of planar flaws that are hardly acknowledged in literature are also presented. The SIF behaviors of the semi-elliptical planar flaws are discussed. The SIF data for relatively small crack sizes are valuable to be used for judging a condition of crack size whether or not it would grow to a critical size.

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Interactive finite element analysis of fracture processes: An integrated approach

Abstract

Engrg. Fracture Mech.

Engrg. Fracture Mech.

Internat. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech.

Comput. and Graphics

Crack tip finite elements are unnecessary

Internat. J. Num. Meth. Engrg.

On the use of isoparametric elements in linear fracture mechanics

Internat. J. Num. Meth. Engrg.

Crack extension modeling with singular quadratic isoparametric elements

Internat. J. Fracture

Mixed mode crack propagation in homogeneous anisotropic solids

Engrg. Fracture Mech.

On the crack extension in plates under plane loading and transverse shear

A.S.M.E. J. Basic Engrg.

Strain energy release rate for a crack under combined Mode I and Mode II

Fracture Analysis, ASTP STP

Strain-energy-density factor applied to mixed-mode crack problems

Internat. J. Fracture Mech.