ANSYS

Linear Elastic
Fracture Mechanics
Example
LEFM Example

 ANSYS has the ability to perform linear elastic fracture mechanics

(LEFM) using several approaches.
— LEFM uses derived elasticity solutions to determine the stress
intensity factor KI at a crack 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.
LEFM Example

 The approaches that can be performed in ANSYS include:

— 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 J-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 problem:
— Prediction and comparison of KI of compact specimen using the
following methods:
• Hand calculation.
• ANSYS special crack tip elements.
• ANSYS J-integral method.
• ANSYS direct method.
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: Hand calculation.

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

a  KI B W
f 
W  P
a
2  a 
2 3 4
a W a  a a
f  0.886  4.64   13.32   14.72   5.60  
W   W  W  W   W  
3
a 2 
1  
 W

B = 1 in
a = 1 in
KI = 227.7 psi-in1/2
1.25 W
W = 2 in
P = 33.3 lb
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS special crack tip elements.

— 2D plane strain mesh.
— KSCON command used to automatically create local crack tip mesh
with quarter-point nodes.
— Half specimen modeled using symmetry boundary conditions.

Crack tip
Crack face
Symmetry boundary
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS special crack tip elements.

— KCALC command used with quarter-point elements to determine KI.

KI = 225.6 psi-in1/2
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

— CINT commands used to define crack tip node and request number of
contours to use (10).
— Same model as 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

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

— Printed J-integral values for 10 contours:

— Plotted J-integral values for 10 contours:

J = 0.00154 lb/in
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

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

J

K I 1  2
2

E

J = 0.00154 lb/in
KI = 225.3 psi-in1/2
E = 30 x 106 psi
 = 0.3
LEFM Example

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS direct method.

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

KI   3 
 yy  cos 1  sin sin 
2r 2  2 2 

— 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 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

 Demonstration problem: ANSYS direct method.

— 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-in1/2