USE OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IN FRACTURE MECHANICS

Many problems in fracture mechanics are not readily amenable to analytical treatment. Stress distributions and stress intensity factors cannot always be calculated easily for a given structural geometry and loading condition. However, finite element methods offer an accurate, versatile, and conceptually simple means by which a given structure can be analyzed. They allow a general application of classical crack propagation analysis whereby the necessary estimates of the stress intensity factor may be calculated. The report presents the development of a general finite element method commonly used in structural mechanics and several finite element approaches employed specifically in fracture mechanics for computing stress and displacement functions, and stress intensity factors for a cracked structure. (Modified author abstract)

• Corporate Authors:

  Aerospace Corporation

  Laboratory Operations
  El Segundo, CA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Atchley, C E
  • Raymond, L
• Publication Date: 1974-4-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 68 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Finite element method; Fracture mechanics; Stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation; Stress intensity factors
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057235
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: TR-0074(4250-10)-6
• Contract Numbers: F04701-73-C-0074
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 28 1974 12:00AM