Key Techniques of Surface Crack Extension Simulation by Finite Element Method

Key techniques of surface crack extension simulation are described by finite element method. The paper performs a fatigue crack growth prediction of surface cracks in plates under a combined tension and bending load. A re-meshing technique developed enables the procedure to be implemented automatically, and then fatigue crack growth can, therefore, be predicted in a step-by-step way. Following the descriptions of some theoretical background and technical details, several important problems such as fitting of the semi-ellipse crack front, singularity and fluctuation disposal in the propagation by finite element method are discussed. At the end the simulation is validated by crack extension tests.