PREDICTION OF STABLE CRACK-GROWTH USING CONTINUUM DAMAGE MECHANICS

This paper examines the application of uncoupled continuum damage mech anics to the prediction of stable crack growth in engineering material s. The formulation of predictive damage methodology and the implementa tion into a finite element code is presented. This approach is validat ed by predicting the crack growth characteristics of engineering alloy s using the uniaxial stress-strain curve as the sole source of materia l parameters. Validation is performed for existing stable crack growth test data for 2219-T87 aluminum alloy. The methodology having been va lidated, the approach is used to explore the influence of material con straint (e.g., plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetry) on the cra ck growth characteristics of aluminum alloys. Thoughts regarding strai n coupling are presented.