ANSYS

Linear Elastic
Fracture
Mechanics
Example
LEFM Example

ANSYS has the ability to perform linear elastic fracture

mechanics (LEFM) using several approaches.

LEFM uses derived elasticity solutions to determine the stress

intensity factor K
I
at a crack tip.

K
I
can be compared to the material fracture toughness to
determine if the crack will propagate.

ANSYS also has the ability with the J-integral feature to

predict crack behavior in the presence of plasticity.

This feature is not presented here.

LEFM Example

The approaches that can be performed in ANSYS include:

Direct method Substitute near-crack element stress and

locations directly into the near-crack elasticity solution to
estimate K
I
.

Use special quarter-point crack elements and KCALC

command to predict K
I
.

Use J-integral method to predict J from path integration

around crack tip, then use relationship between J and K
I
to
determine K
I
.

Crack opening displacement approach to relate the relative

displacement of the crack faces to K
I
.

Several of these methods are demonstrated and

compared to theoretical results.
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem:

Prediction and comparison of K

I
of compact specimen using
the following methods:
Hand calculation.
ANSYS special crack tip elements.
ANSYS J-integral method.
ANSYS direct method.
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: Hand calculation.

From fracture mechanics text, K

I
for a compact specimen is
given as:
1
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

,
_

4 4 4
4
4
44 . 4 44 . 44 44 . 44 44 . 4 444 . 4
4
4
W
a
W
a
W
a
W
a
W
a
W
a
W
a
f
P
W B K
W
a
f
I
1.25 W
B = 1 in
a = 1 in
W = 2 in
P = 33.3 lb
K
I
= 227.7 psi-in
1/2
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS special crack tip

elements.

2D plane strain mesh.

KSCON command used to automatically create local crack tip

mesh with quarter-point nodes.

Half specimen modeled using symmetry boundary conditions.

Crack tip
Crack face
Symmetry boundary
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS special crack tip

elements.

KCALC command used with quarter-point elements to

determine K
I
.
K
I
= 225.6 psi-in
1/2
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

CINT commands used to define crack tip node and request

number of contours to use (10).

Same model as before, but special crack tip elements are not
required.

Paths are created automatically around the crack tip, using the
next available row of elements.
Path 7 of 10
Crack tip
Crack face
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

Printed J-integral values for 10 contours:

Plotted J-integral values for 10 contours:

J = 0.00154 lb/in
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS J-integral method.

Relating J and K
I
for plane strain, assuming no plasticity:
K
I
= 225.3 psi-in
1/2
J = 0.00154 lb/in
E = 30 x 10
6
psi
= 0.3
( )
E
K
J
I
4
4
4

LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS direct method.

In the direct method, elements near the crack tip are used to
calculate K
I
by direct substitution of r, , and
yy
:

Using the same mesh used in the J-integral calculation, the

values were determined at the centroid of the elements shown
below.

,
_

+
4
4
sin
4
sin 4
4
cos
4

r
K
I
yy
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS direct method.

An ANSYS macro was created to calculate K

I
at each element
centroid.

The distribution of K
I
shows a wide range of values right near
the crack tip.
LEFM Example

Demonstration problem: ANSYS direct method.

To provide a more accurate result, consider only the first row

of elements directly in front of the crack tip.
Extrapolating K
I
versus radial distance from crack tip provides
accurate result.
K
I
= 223 psi-in
1/2