Compressive residual stresses induced by tensile overloads, compressive under loads, or by a cold-expansion process in specimens containing a circular hole and their influence on subsequent fatigue crack growth in aluminum alloys are studied. The finite element method is used to calculate residual stresses. The superposition method, which uses crack-tip stress intensity factors for cases involving remote loading and residual stresses, is used to calculate crack growth life for three kinds of tests from the literature: (1) fatigue of a circular hole specimen after an overload or under load, (2) single crack growing from a circular hole after a severe tensile overload, and (3) single crack growing from a circular hole after cold-working, reaming and notching. All specimens were subjected to subsequent constant amplitude loading. The superposition method worked fairly well for most cases, but tended to over predict fatigue life for small cracks and for cracks growing under residual stresses, which produce compressive (maximum and minimum) stress intensity factors.

This thesis details an experimental study on the determination of the fracture parameters for a crack located at the interface between two dissimilar materials using the method of photoelasticity. The interface is potential1y an inherent weak spot of any composite material, structure"or adhesively bonded joint. Accurate description of the state of stress at the crack tip is required for strength prediction. The concept of the complex stress intensity factor is used to characterise the elastic crack tip stress field for an interface crack. Complex stress intensity factors and their moduli have been measured experimental1y for standard bimaterial crack geometries using the wel1 established technique of photo elasticity. Bimaterial specimens comprising aluminium al10y and epoxy resin components were used. This creates a large material mismatch at the interface and al10ws data to be col1ected from the epoxy component of the specimen using transmission photoelasticity. An automated ful1 field photoelastic technique was developed to significantly reduce the data col1ection time. The technique comprises elements from the approaches of three wavelength and phase stepping photoelasticity and is a significant improvement on techniques previously available. Stress intensity factors were determined by fitting a theoretical stress field solution for the bimaterial crack to the experimental data. A computational routine automatical1y selects the region of best fit between the experimental data and the theoretical solution. This data is then used to determine the complex stress intensity factor and its modulus value. In order to provide a robust fit between the experimental data and the theoretical field solution a weighting function was incorporated into the routine. The measured bimaterial stress intensity factors are compared with those determined experimental1y for equivalent homogeneous specimens made from epoxy resin. The differences between the two are then discussed. The experimental results agree with the wel1 known concept that tension and shear effects are inherently coupled at the crack tip. However, the effects of changing the load angle with respect to the interface also demonstrate that some contrasts exist with known numerical solutions.

Este trabalho apresenta os principais fenômenos que regem a propagação de trincas em anéis de rolamentos, por meio da aplicação de conceitos da Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear e Fadiga. O estado complexo de tensões atuante sobre o anel do rolamento culmina em carregamento modo misto sobre as paredes da trinca. Para o problema de rolamento proposto, são considerados os modos de abertura e de cisalhamento puro no plano do defeito, sob regime cíclico. O fator de intensidade de tensões K e a integral J são parâmetros que estabelecem condições de fratura e são suficientes, para caracterizar a criticidade de trincas instaladas em anéis de rolamentos. A avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é baseada na aplicação de Critérios de Falha distintos, oriundos de literaturas especializadas. A partir dos parâmetros de fratura, K e J , e da avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é possível determinar a vida remanescente à fadiga, por meio de modelos que descrevem a taxa de propagação de trincas. Os resultados indicam que o modo misto de carregamento de trinca considerado na dissertação, é um dos parâmetros mais importantes a considera-se na nucleação e propagação de defeitos em rolamentos, e são responsáveis por uma redução significativa da vida à fadiga originalmente estipulada. / This work presents the main phenomenon that governs the crack propagation in bearing rings, through the application of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue concepts. The complex stress state acting on the bearing ring produces a mixed mode loading over the crack faces. The proposed bearing problem considers a tensile mode and pure shear mode in the plane of the defect, both under a cyclic regime. The stress intensity factor K and the J -integral parameters define the fracture conditions and suffice to characterize the severity of cracks developed in bearing rings. The procedure for defect assessment is based on the application of different failure criteria. Using parameters, K and J, coupled to the defect assessment procedures, it is possible to estimate the remaining fatigue life, through models that describe the crack propagation rate. The results indicate that the mixed mode loading considered in this work is one of the most important parameters in nucleation and propagation of bearing defects and are responsible for a significant reduction in the original estimation of fatigue life.

Este trabalho apresenta os principais fenômenos que regem a propagação de trincas em anéis de rolamentos, por meio da aplicação de conceitos da Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear e Fadiga. O estado complexo de tensões atuante sobre o anel do rolamento culmina em carregamento modo misto sobre as paredes da trinca. Para o problema de rolamento proposto, são considerados os modos de abertura e de cisalhamento puro no plano do defeito, sob regime cíclico. O fator de intensidade de tensões K e a integral J são parâmetros que estabelecem condições de fratura e são suficientes, para caracterizar a criticidade de trincas instaladas em anéis de rolamentos. A avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é baseada na aplicação de Critérios de Falha distintos, oriundos de literaturas especializadas. A partir dos parâmetros de fratura, K e J , e da avaliação da criticidade de defeitos é possível determinar a vida remanescente à fadiga, por meio de modelos que descrevem a taxa de propagação de trincas. Os resultados indicam que o modo misto de carregamento de trinca considerado na dissertação, é um dos parâmetros mais importantes a considera-se na nucleação e propagação de defeitos em rolamentos, e são responsáveis por uma redução significativa da vida à fadiga originalmente estipulada. / This work presents the main phenomenon that governs the crack propagation in bearing rings, through the application of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue concepts. The complex stress state acting on the bearing ring produces a mixed mode loading over the crack faces. The proposed bearing problem considers a tensile mode and pure shear mode in the plane of the defect, both under a cyclic regime. The stress intensity factor K and the J -integral parameters define the fracture conditions and suffice to characterize the severity of cracks developed in bearing rings. The procedure for defect assessment is based on the application of different failure criteria. Using parameters, K and J, coupled to the defect assessment procedures, it is possible to estimate the remaining fatigue life, through models that describe the crack propagation rate. The results indicate that the mixed mode loading considered in this work is one of the most important parameters in nucleation and propagation of bearing defects and are responsible for a significant reduction in the original estimation of fatigue life.

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre des problèmes de fissuration par fatigue, détectéesnotamment dans des structures nucléaires et se situe dans la continuité de travaux déjà réalisésau laboratoire. L’objectif de cette étude est la réalisation d’un outil numérique de prédictiondu phénomène de fermeture induite par plasticité, au cours de la propagation d’une fissure defatigue dans une éprouvette CT, dans un acier inoxydable 304L, en prenant en comptel’influence simultanée de la forme des fronts et de la longueur de fissure. Celle-ci a d’abordété considérée par le biais de modèles numérique tridimensionnels sous ABAQUS, avec desgéométries pré-imposées des fronts de fissure. Les évolutions des facteurs d’intensité effectifs(FIC) locaux le long des fronts et au cours de la propagation ont été comparées. Ensuite, unoutil numérique, utilisant le code ABAQUS et le langage de programmation PYTHON a étédéveloppé pour la prédiction automatique de la forme de la fissure en fonction des donnéesd’entrée (géométrie, charge, conditions aux limites, définition du contact au cours de lapropagation, maillage), à partir d’un entaille droite de longueur égale à 0.1mm. La variationeffective du FIC ΔK l eff local a été supposée étant la force motrice de la propagation. Lesessais de fatigue ciblés réalisés ont permis une comparaison critique avec le numérique, enterme de formes finales du front de fissure dans les différentes conditions de chargementimposées. / This PhD thesis deals with the problems of fatigue cracking, particularly detected in nuclearstructures, and is a continuation of work already carried out in the laboratory. The objective ofthis study is to provide a numerical prediction tool of the phenomenon of plasticity-inducedcrack closure, during the propagation of a fatigue crack in a CT specimen and in a 304Lstainless steel, taking into account the simultaneous influences of the crack shape and cracklength. This has been first considered through three-dimensional numerical models withABAQUS, through pre-imposed crack fronts geometries. The local stress intensity factors(FIC) evolutions along the crack fronts and over the whole propagation have been compared.Then, a numerical tool, using the ABAQUS code and the programming language PYTHONhas been developed in order to automatically predict the crack shape evolution, depending ondifferent input data (geometry, loads, boundary conditions, contact definition duringpropagation, mesh), starting from a 0.1mm straight notch. The local effective evolution of theSIF ΔK l eff has been supposed to be the driving force for the whole propagation. Fatiguetargeted tests have been carried out in order to allow a critical comparison with the numericalresults, in terms of final crack front shapes under different imposed loading conditions.

No description available.

The meshless local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method is used to numerically find an approximate solution of plane strain/stress linear elastostatic and elastodynamic problems. The MLPG method requires only a set of nodes both for the interpolation of the solution variables and the evaluation of various integrals appearing in the problem formulation. The monomial basis functions in the MLPG formulation have been enriched with those for the linear elastic fracture mechanics solutions near a crack tip. Also, the diffraction and the visibility criteria have been added to make the displacement field discontinuous across a crack. A computer code has been developed in Fortran and validated by comparing computed solutions of three static and one dynamic problem with their analytical solutions. The capabilities of the code have been extended to analyze contact problems in which a displacement component and the complementary traction component are prescribed at the same point of the boundary. The code has been used to analyze stress and deformation fields near a crack tip and to find the stress intensity factors by using contour integrals, the equivalent domain integrals and the J-integral and from the intercepts with the ordinate of the plots, on a logarithmic scale, of the stress components versus the distance ahead of the crack tip. We have also computed time histories of the stress intensity factors at the tips of a central crack in a rectangular plate with plate edges parallel to the crack loaded in tension. These are found to compare favorably with those available in the literature. The code has been used to compute time histories of the stress intensity factors in a double edge-notched plate with the smooth edge between the notches loaded in compression. It is found that the deformation fields near the notch tip are mode-II dominant. The mode mixity parameter can be changed in an orthotropic plate by adjusting the ratio of the Young's moduli in the axial and the transverse direction. The plane strain problem of compressing a linear elastic material confined in a rectangular cavity with rough horizontal walls and a smooth vertical wall has been studied with the developed code. Computed displacements and stresses are found to agree well with the analytical solution of the problem obtained by the Laplace transform technique. The Appendix describes the analysis with the finite element code ABAQUS of the dependence of the energy release rate upon the crack length in a polymeric disk enclosed in a steel ring and having a star shaped hole at its center. A starter crack is assumed to exist in one of the leaflets of the hole. The disk is loaded either by a pressure acting on the surfaces of the hole and the crack or by a temperature rise. Computed values of the energy release rate obtained by modeling the disk material as Hookean are found to be about 30% higher than those obtained when the disk material is modeled as Mooney-Rivlin. The latter set of results accounts for both material and geometric nonlinearities. / Ph. D.

A life prediction method is developed for spot-welds subject to fatigue loading. Stress intensity factors are used with the Walker equation to develop two crack growth approaches to the problem. The predictions fit data for lap joint configurations well, but not so for peel joint geometries. / Master of Science

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is the process of using measurements of a structure's response to known excitations and trying to determine if damage has occurred to the structure. This also fits the description of non-destructive evaluation (NDE). The main difference is that NDE takes place while the structure is out of service and SHM is intended to take place while the structure is in service. As such, SHM provides the opportunity to provide early warning against structural failure. This thesis intends to advance the state of the art in SHM by examining two approaches to SHM: vibration based and impedance based, and to associate these with the NDE method of stress intensity factors. By examining these methods the goal is to try and answer some of the important questions in SHM process. The first is to experimentally validate a crack model and to see how small of a crack can be detected by vibration methods. The second is to use the concept of stress intensity factor to perform an SHM type of measurement to determine the remaining life of a structure once the impedance method has determined that damage has occurred. The measurement system considered consists of using several different piezoceramic materials as self-sensing actuators and sensors. The structures are a simple beam and a more complex lug element used in aircraft applications. The approach suggested here is to use the impedance and vibration methods to detect crack initiation and then to use the proposed stress intensity method to measure the stress intensity factor of the structure under consideration. / Master of Science

Components of turbines, combustion chambers, multi-layered electronic packaging structures and nuclear reactors are subjected to transient thermal loads during their service life. In the presence of a discontinuity like crack or dislocation, the thermal load creates high temperature gradient, which in turn causes the stress intensification at the crack tips. If proper attention is not paid in the design and maintenance of components on this high stress in the vicinity of crack tips, it may lead to instability in the system and decrease in the service life. The concepts of thermal fracture mechanics and its major parameter called transient thermal stress intensity factors can greatly help in the assessment of stability and residual life prediction of such structures. The evaluation of thermal stress intensity factors becomes computationally difficult when the body constitutes of two different materials or is non-homogenous or made of composites. Fracture at bi-material interface is different from its homogenous counterpart because of mixed mode stress condition that prevails at the crack tip even when the geometry is symmetric and loading unidirectional. Because of this, the mode 1 and mode 2 stress intensity factors can not be decoupled to represent tension and shear stress fields as can be done in the case of homogeneous materials. Mathematically, the stress intensity factors at bi-material interfaces are complex due to oscillatory singularity that exists at the crack tip. Although plenty of literature is available for bi-material systems subjected to mechanical loads, very little information is available on problems related to thermal loads. Besides, problems related to transient thermal loads need special attention, since no thermal weight functions are available and the existing methods are computationally expensive. Therefore, the present investigation has been undertaken to develop computational and analytical approaches for obtaining the Mode 1 and Mode 2 stress intensity factors for bi-material interface crack problems using conservation of energy principle in conjunction with the weight function approach for various kinds of thermal loads. In the beginning of the studies, a method to extract the Mode 1 and Mode 2 stress intensity factors for bi-material interface crack subjected to mechanical load is proposed using the concept of Jk integrals. This is extended to thermal loads using J2 line integral and J2 domain integral. Furthermore, weight functions are analytically derived for thermal bi-material stress intensity factors and a computational scheme is developed. These methods are validated for several benchmark problems with known solutions.