ANSYS

Linear Elastic
Fracture Mechanics
Example

LEFM Example

ANSYS
S S has
h the
h ability
bili to perform
f
linear
li
elastic
l i fracture
f
mechanics (LEFM) using several approaches.

LEFM uses derived elasticity solutions to determine the stress

intensity factor KI at a crack tip
tip.
KI can be compared to the material fracture toughness to
determine if the crack will propagate.

ANSYS also has the ability with the J-integral feature to

predict crack behavior in the presence of plasticity.

This feature is not presented here

here.

LEFM Example

The
h approaches
h that
h can b
be performed
f
d iin ANSYS
S S iinclude:
l d

Direct method Substitute near-crack element stress and

locations directly into the near-crack elasticity solution to
estimate KI.
Use special quarter-point crack elements and KCALC command to
predict KI.
Use JJ-integral
integral method to predict J from path integration around
crack tip, then use relationship between J and KI to determine KI.
Crack opening displacement approach to relate the relative
displacement of the crack faces to KI.

Several of these methods are demonstrated and compared to

theoretical results.

LEFM Example

Demonstration
i
problem:
bl

Prediction and comparison of KI of compact specimen using the

following methods:

Hand
H
d calculation.
l l ti
ANSYS special crack tip elements.
ANSYS J-integral method.
ANSYS direct method.

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
Hand
H d calculation.
l l ti

From fracture mechanics text, KI for a compact specimen is given

as:
a
f
W

KI B W

a
2
a
W
f
3
W
a 2
1
W

a
0.886 4.64
W

2
3
4
a

a
a
13.32 14.72 5.60

W
W
W

B = 1 in
a = 1 in
1.25
5W

W = 2 in
P = 33.3 lb

KI = 227.7 psi-in1/2

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS special
i l crack
k tip
ti elements.
l
t

2D plane strain mesh.

KSCON command used to automatically create local crack tip mesh
with quarter-point
quarter point nodes.
nodes
Half specimen modeled using symmetry boundary conditions.

Crack face

Crack tip
Symmetry boundary

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS special
i l crack
k tip
ti elements.
l
t

KCALC command used with quarter-point elements to determine

KI.

KI = 225.6 psi-in1/2

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS J-integral
Ji t
l method.
th d

CINT commands used to define crack tip node and request

number of contours to use (10).
Same model as before
before, but special crack tip elements are not
required.
Paths are created automatically around the crack tip, using the
next available row of elements.

Path 7 of 10

Crack face

Crack tip

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS J-integral
Ji t
l method.
th d

Printed J-integral values for 10 contours:

Plotted J-integral values for 10 contours:

J = 0.00154 lb/in

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS J-integral
Ji t
l method.
th d

Relating J and KI for plane strain, assuming no plasticity:

K I 1 2
J
E
2

J = 0.00154 lb/in
E = 30 x
= 0.3

106

psi

KI = 225
225.3
3 psi-in1/2

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS di
directt method.
th d

In the direct method, elements near the crack tip are used to
calculate KI by direct substitution of r, , and yy:

yy

KI
3

cos 1 sin sin

2
2
2
2r

Using the same mesh used in the J-integral calculation, the values
were determined at the centroid of the elements shown below.

LEFM Example

Demonstration p
problem: ANSYS direct method.

An ANSYS macro was created to calculate KI at each element

centroid.
The distribution of KI shows a wide range of values right near the
crack tip.

LEFM Example

D
Demonstration
t ti
problem:
bl
ANSYS di
directt method.
th d

To provide a more accurate result, consider only the first row of

elements directly in front of the crack tip.
Extrapolating KI versus radial distance from crack tip provides accurate
result.

KI = 223 psi-in
i i 1/2