FATIGUE LIFE AND CRACK PATH PREDICTION IN 2D STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS USING AN ADAPTIVE FINITE ELEMENT STRATEGY

Fatigue crack propagation in two-dimensional structural components under constant amplitude loading is analyzed using an adaptive finite element procedure. The stressintensity factors are estimated by using displacement correlation technique utilizing the purposely constructed singular elements around the crack tip with automatic remeshing algorithms. The propagation is modeled by the successive linear extensions under the linear elastic assumption. Subsequently, the fatigue life cycle is estimated based upon Paris’ equation. The test for the first specimen which is the single centered angled crack is applied only to show the accuracy and efficiency of this method to calculate accurate values of stress intensity factors. Subsequently, fatigue analysis is applied for two geometry specimens namely, single edge angled crack and modified four points bending SEN specimen. Verification of the predicted fatigue life is validated with relevant experimental data and numerical results obtained by other researchers. The comparisons show that the program is capable of demonstrating the fatigue life prediction results as well as the fatigue crack path satisfactorily