The application of finite element analysis to fracture mechanics.

Abstract

The work described in this thesis is concerned with the application of the finite element method related to fracture mechanics, for Mode I,mixed-mode, I and II, plane stress/strain problems, and Mode I axisymmetric bodies under axisymmetric loading. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the fracture program packages, which has been translated from its existing Algcl format to Basic, during the course of this work, in order to suit the HP 9845 desk-top camputer. These programs include Mode I and mixed-. mode I and II plane crack problems, and Mode I axisymmetric bodies under axisymmetric loading.An improvement to the accuracy of the values of stresses calculated using the already, available standard plane stress/strain finite element method has been achieved, by the application of a smoothing technique.Numerical examples are given in détails describing the technique and its application. All examples are run on the HP 9845 desk-top computer. All the above mentioned programs are run in conjunction with the automatic mesh generation package available in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Aston, except that of the Mode I axisymmetric program which deploy a semi automatic mesh generation method. A preview of the most useful methods for the determination of the stress intensity factors has been presented in a short concise form.