Title
A new method for fatigue life prediction based on the Thick Level set approach
Author
Voormeeren, L.O.
van der Meer, F.P.
Maljaars, J.
Sluys, L.J.
Publication year
2017
Abstract
The last decade has seen a growing interest in cohesive zone models for fatigue applications. These cohesive zone models often suffer from a lack of generality and applying them typically requires calibrating a large number of model-specific parameters. To improve on these issues a new method has been proposed in this paper based on the Thick Level Set approach. In this concept, material degradation due to cyclic loading is the result of interaction between damage evolution and fracture mechanics. The Thick Level Set formulation has been extended to interface elements, in order to allow for separation of strain energy in the bulk and energy required for surface creation. Global fracture parameters, derived from a free energy description governing the interface elements, are used as input for the empirical crack growth rate relation (Paris’ equation). It must be emphasized that in contrast to existing fatigue models, the Thick Level Set approach does not require the definition of a damage evolution law. Instead, damage is updated automatically by a continuously moving damage front. It is shown that applicability is not limited to fatigue behavior of linear elastic materials; elastic-plastic materials such as steels can be analysed as well. The sensitivity of model parameters is investigated and discussed and the practical relevance is explored for standard test configurations.
Subject
2015 Fluid & Solid Mechanics
SD - Structural Dynamics SR - Structural Reliability
TS - Technical Sciences
Buildings and Infrastructures
Architecture and Building
2015 Urbanisation
Fatigue
Thick Level Set
Fracture mechanics
Damage mechanics
Interface elements
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:268a28c9-66ad-4ad9-a823-1b1e5cae0554
TNO identifier
783113
Source
Enginnering Fracture Mechanics, 182, 449-466
Document type
article