Three-dimensional modeling of ductile crack growth in thin sheet metals: computational aspects and validation

This work describes the development of two types of three-dimensional (3D) finite element models to predict stable, Mode I crack growth in thin, ducti le aluminum alloys, The two presented models extend the standard 2D form of the Crack Tip Opening Angle (CTOA) methodology, which determines crack ext ension based on obtaining a critical angle at the crack tip. The more gener al 3D model evaluates the CTOA at each node along the crack front which ena bles the development of tunneled profiles. The alternative, constant front approach, enforces uniform growth along the crack front, thereby growing th e crack in a self-similar manner. For the constant front approach, evaluati on of the CTOA occurs at a specified distance behind the crack front which decouples CTOA evaluation from mesh refinement. Both CTOA-based models incl ude adaptive load control strategies to minimize the effects of discrete Lo ad increments on the growth response, Example analyses demonstrate that the more general 3D approach requires cube-shaped elements on the crack plane to eliminate a bias in growth directions, To evaluate the effectiveness of the constant front approach, this work also describes a validation study us ing loadcrack extension data from 2.3 mm thick Al 2024-T3 specimens tested at NASA-Langley. The test matrix includes C(T) and M(T) specimens, with var ying widths (50-600 mm), a/W ratios, and levels of mechanical restraint to suppress out-of-plane bending, Comparisons of load-crack extension curves f rom experiments and analyses of a 150 mm C(T) specimen, with out-of-plane b ending prevented, provide a calibrated (critical) CTOA value of 5.1 degrees , Analyses using the calibrated CTOA value and the constant front approach provide predictions of peak load for constrained and unconstrained specimen s in good agreement with the experimental values, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.