DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION BY FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

A system for analyzing fatigue crack propagation in two-dimensional penetrated crack models is developed using the finite element method associated with fracture mechanics. A notable feature of the system is the automated consecutive analysis of crack propagation. This enables analyses to be carried out with considerable savings of time, even under variable-amplitude load fluctuation; the user need only establish the initial data such as the analysis model, applied external forces, boundary conditions and material properties. This paper presents the overall system flow and outlines the system theory. It verifies the practicality of the system by comparing its results with those obtained experimentally. An application to an actual structure is also analyzed and discussed.