Automatic 3D Crack Growth Using BEASY

Abstract

This paper described an automatic procedure for predicting crack growth in three dimensional structures as well as calculating the stress intensity factors at each crack increment. The procedure is implemented in a general purpose engineering analysis system BEASY. The system uses a dual boundary element technique to simplify the modelling of the cracks and to provide highly accurate stress intensity factors. Applications are presented for single cracks and results compared with analytical solutions.