Simulation of 3D fatigue crack propagation using an implicit time integration scheme

Due to the non-linear behavior of fatigue crack growth an incremental numerical procedure has to be applied for the simulation. In the present work a new implicit time integration scheme for arbitrary loading conditions is presented ensuring accurate simulation results. Within this scheme special focus is on the evolution of the stress field between two successive discrete crack fronts of the incremental procedure. By the consideration of the changing stress field the numerically obtained crack fronts are optimized with respect to their shape and location. The whole procedure is implemented in the framework of a predictor–corrector scheme. Two examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of the presented scheme.