BITS Pilani

Pilani | Dubai | Goa | Hyderabad

Damage tolerance studies on Frame

P r ob l e m S t at e m e nt
In a horizontal hollow frame , a crack of 2a = 6 mm and c = 1 mm is found. Cross
section of the square frame is 60 x 60 x 5 mm. A portion of frame of length 100 mm
is taken for the analysis under bending moment of 10 kNm. Determine the SIF value
and estimate the load at which the SIF value will be less than threshold value so
that the crack won’t propagate. ΔKth = 160 MPa√mm, KC = 1600 MPa√mm, C =
5.21E-13, m = 3.
L e a rn i ng Ou tc o m es

• From the above tutorial we have learned

– Effect of bending load
– Predict the damage tolerance load
– Use of semi elliptical crack
S t e ps
• Importing the CDB file into Franc3D software
• Incorporating the crack at critical location
• Perform Static Crack analysis – to determine the SIF of initial crack
• Perform Growth crack analysis – to set crack parameters
• Perform Crack propagation analysis till it becomes critical
• Review results
I n te r p re ta t io n
• Interpretation of Initial SIF value with fracture threshold value.
• Comparison of applied load with SIF