Ultimate Fracture Strength Analysis of Initially Cracked Plate

초기균열을 가진 판의 최종파괴 강도해석

The aim of the present paper is to develop a computer program predicting ultimate fracture strength of initially cracked structure under monotonically increasing external loads. For this purpose, two kinds of 3-D isoparametric solid elements, one 6-node wedge element and another 8-node brick element are formulated along the small deformation theory. Plasticity in the element is checked using von Mises' yield criterion. Elasto-plastic stiffness matrix of the element is calculated taking account of strain hardening effect. If the principal strain at crack tip which is one nodal point exceeds the critical strain dependin on the material property, crack tip is supposed to be opened and the crack tip node which was previously constrained in the direction perpendicular to the crack line is released. After that, the crack lay be propagated to the adjacent node. Once a crack tip node is fractured, the energy of the newly fractured node should be released which is to be absorbed by the remaining part. The accumulated reaction force which was carried by the newly fractured node so far is then applied in the opposite direction. During the action of crack tip relief force, since unloading may be occured in the plastic element, unloading check should be made. If a plastic element unloads, elastic stress-strain equation is used in the calculation of the stiffness matrix of the element, while for a loading element, elasto-plastic stress-strain equation is continuously used. Verification of the computer program is made comparing with the experimental results for center cracked panel subjected to uniform tensile load. Also some factors affecting ultimate fracture strength of initially cracked plate are investigated. It is concluded that the computer program developed here gives an accurate solution and becomes useful tool for predicting ultimate fracture load of initially cracked structural system under monotonically increasing external loads.