Author(s)

X.-B. Zhang, N. Recho, S. Ma & J. Li

Abstract

Numerical simulation of crack bifurcation under fatigue loading X.-B. Zhang, N. Recho, S. Ma & J . Li Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches en Me'canique des Structures, Blaise Pascal University of Clerrnont-Ferrand, France Abstract Most crack growths are due to fatigue loading. However, in practice, it is difficult to carry out a numerical modelling of fatigue crack growth because of the presence of the plastic zone near the crack tip. So in this paper, a simplified numerical method considering the effect of cyclic loading is proposed. This method aims to simulate the fatigue crack growth under mixed mode loading and to take into account the hardening behaviour of the material at the crack tip. Using this method, a series of numerical calculations by the finite element method of the mixed mode crack growth are carried out. In order to compare the results of the proposed method and those of existing methods, a special cracked specimen subjected to different mixed mode loads is analysed. The cra

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