An Intermediate Asymptotic

Solution of the Coupled

Creep-Damage Crack
Problem in Similarity Variable

L.V. Stepanova
Samara State University
 Outline
 The class of self-similar solutions to coupled (creep-damage) crack problems is
presented. The constitutive model is based on continuum damage mechanics.
The conventional Kachanov-Rabotnov creep-damage theory is utilized to study
the asymptotic behavior of damage in the region very near the crack tip.
 The totally damaged zone where the damage (integrity) parameter reaches its
critical value is assumed to exist in the vicinity of the crack tip. Using the
similarity variable the asymptotic solutions to mode I, II and mode III crack
problems are obtained. The asymptotic stress, creep strain rate and damage
fields near the crack tip are analyzed by solving nonlinear eigenvalue problems
resulting in a new far stress distribution. The configurations of the totally
damaged zone governed by the new far stress field are found and analyzed.
 The new far field stress asymptotic can be interpreted as the intermediate
asymptotic valid for times and distances at which effects of initial and
boundary conditions on the stress and damage distributions are lost. Higher
order fields for damaged nonlinear antiplane shear and tensile crack problems
are analytically derived. The higher order fields obtained permit the shape of
the totally damaged zone modelled in the vicinity of the crack tip to be
determined more exactly. The similarity solutions obtained can be further used
in more general multiscaling models in crack tip mechanics which develops
multiscale methodologies of crack tip description
Self-similar variable and self-similar
presentation of the solution
 Constitutive equations

 Damage evolution law

 Remote boundary condition

Self-similar variable and self-similar
presentation of the solution
 Similarity variable

 Self-similar presentation of the solution

 Mode III crack problem
 Equilibrium equation

 Compatibility equation

 Kinetic law of damage evolution

 Mode III crack problem
 Traction free boundary condition on the crack
surface

 Symmetry condition

 Asymptotic condition requiring that the stress

field must approach the Hutchinson-Rice-
Rosengren (HRR) field at large distances from
the crack tip
 Mode III crack problem.
Asymptotic solution
 Eigenfunction expansion at large distances from
the crack tip

 Boundary value problem for the coefficients of

the first term of the stress asymptotic expansion
 Mode III crack problem
 Nonlinear eigenvalue problem

 Kinetic law of damage evolution

 Mode III crack problem
 Two-term asymptotic expansion for continuity
(integrity) parameter

 Boundary of the totally damaged zone

 Two-term asymptotic expansion of the effective

stress tensor components
 Mode III crack problem
 Two-term asymptotic expansion of the stress tensor components

 Two-term asymptotic expansion of the effective stress and strain tensor

components
 Mode III crack problem
 Boundary value problem for the coefficients of the two-
term effective stress tensor asymptotic expansions
 Mode III crack problem
 Kinetic law of damage evolution

 Three-term asymptotic expansion of continuity

parameter at large distances from the crack tip

 The contour of the totally damaged zone

Mode III crack problem. Asymptotic expansions
and higher order fields at crack tip
 Three-term asymptotic expansion of the effective stress (the
stress referred to the surface that really transmits the
internal forces)

 Three-term asymptotic expansion of stress tensor

components at large distances from the crack tip

 Three-term asymptotic expansion of the creep strains

Mode III crack problem. Asymptotic expansions
and higher order fields at crack tip
 The kinetic equation

 Forth-order asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter

at large distances from the crack tip

 The shape of the totally damaged zone is governed by

 Mode III crack problem. The contours of the totally damaged
zone (TDZ) in the vicinity of the antiplane shear crack tip
 1-the contour of the TDZ given by the two-term asymptotic integrity parameter
expansion
 2-the contour of the TDZ given by the three-term asymptotic integrity parameter
expansion
 Mode III crack problem
 To elucidate the cause of this fact one can formulate the
remote boundary condition in a more general form with an
unknown s which must be found as a part of the solution
under the condition of convergence of the TDZ boundary to
some limit contour

 The self-similar variable in a more general form

 The similarity solution has the form

 Mode III crack problem
 The eigenvalue s for different values of material constants
 Mode III crack problem
 The contours of the TDZ for the new stress field asymptotics

 The configurations of the TDZ for the new far field stress asymptotics are shown in figures where the
following notations are accepted: 1-the contour given by the two-term asymptotic expansion of the
integrity parameter; 2-the contour given by the three-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity
parameter; 3-the contour given by the four-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter; 4-the
contour given by the five-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter; 5-the contour given by
the six-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter.
 Mode III crack problem
 The contours of the TDZ for the new stress field asymptotics

 The configurations of the TDZ for the new far field stress asymptotics are shown in figures where the
following notations are accepted: 1-the contour given by the two-term asymptotic expansion of the
integrity parameter; 2-the contour given by the three-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity
parameter; 3-the contour given by the four-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter; 4-the
contour given by the five-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter; 5-the contour given by
the six-term asymptotic expansion of the integrity parameter.
 Finite difference solution of mode III crack problem in copled
formulation
 To justify the asymptotic solution obtained one can address to the direct
numerical integration of mode III crack problem equations formulated in
terms of the similarity variable.

 Stresses and integrity distributions in the vicinity of the antiplane shear

crack
 Finite difference solution of mode III crack problem in coupled
formulation
 It is seen that there are two rectilinear parts: one linear region
corresponds to the Rice’s asymptotics while the order linear part
corresponds to the new intermediate asymptotic solution

 Logarithmic plot of the effective stress

Mode I crack. Fundamental equations and asymptotic solution

 The creep power-law constitutive equations in the coupled formulation

 The equilibrium equations are written in the form

 The compatibility equation

 The kinetic evolution law of damage

Mode I crack. Fundamental equations and asymptotic solution

 The creep power-law constitutive equations in the coupled formulation

 The traction-free conditions on the crack surfaces

 The remote boundary conditions

 Mode I crack problem. Statement of the problem in terms of
the similarity variable
 The equilibrium equations

 The compatibility equation

 The kinetic law of damage evolution

 Constitutive equations (plane strain conditions)

 Mode I crack problem. Statement of the problem in terms of
the similarity variable
 Constitutive equations (plane strain conditions)

 Traction-free boundary conditions

 Symmetry requirements

 The asymptotic remote boundary conditions

 Asymptotic solution
 The Airy stress function

 Asymptotic expansions for the Airy stress function and for the continuity
parameter

 The three-term stress tensor asymptotic expansion

 Nonlinear eigenvalue problem
 Eigenvalus s. Numerical results
 The boundary of the TDZ for different values of
materials constants (plane strain conditions)

 1 - the contour given by the two-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 2 -
the contour given by the three-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 3-
the contour given by the four-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter;
 The boundary of the TDZ for different values of
materials constants (plane strain conditions)

 1 - the contour given by the two-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 2 -
the contour given by the three-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 3-
the contour given by the four-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter;
 The boundary of the TDZ for different values of
materials constants (plane stress conditions)

 1 - the contour given by the two-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 2 -
the contour given by the three-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter; 3-
the contour given by the four-term asymptotic expansion of the continuity parameter;
 Rate of growth of the totally damage zone
 One can estimate the size of the TDZ and find a law according to which
the TDZ evolutes

 The rate of the TDZ

 Conclusions
 The effects of material damage on the asymptotic stress and creep strain
rate fields of mode I and mode III cracks were analysed on the basis of
continuum damage mechanics by postulating power-law creep damage
theory.
 Based on the similarity variable a stress analysis is carried out for
the mode I crack under plane stress and plane strain conditions and for
the mode III crack and assuming the existence of a totally damaged zone
near the crack tip. It is found that the Hutchinson-Rice-Rosengren
solution can’t be used as the remote boundary condition and the actual
far field stress is obtained. The shape of the totally damaged zone is
given and analysed.
 It is shown that the new far field stress asymptotics can be
interpreted as the intermediate asymptotic valid for times and distances
at which effects of initial and boundary conditions on the stress and
damage distributions are lost.
 Higher order fields for damaged nonlinear antiplane shear and
tensile crack problems are analytically derived. The higher order fields
obtained permit the shape of the totally damaged zone modelled in the
vicinity of the crack tip to be determined more exactly.