Computation of Linear Elastic and Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics Parameters Using FEA
Renjin J Bright1, Lokesh Kumar P. J2

1Renjin J Bright, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jeppiaar SRR Engineering College, Chennai  (Tamil Nadu), India.
2Lokesh Kumar P. J, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, RMK Engineering College, Chennai  (Tamil Nadu), India. 

Manuscript received on 13 June 2017 | Revised Manuscript received on 20 June 2017 | Manuscript Published on 30 June 2017 | PP: 306-312 | Volume-6 Issue-5, June 2017 | Retrieval Number: E5091066517/17©BEIESP
Open Access | Editorial and Publishing Policies | Cite | Mendeley | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) parameter Stress intensity factor and Elastic Plastic Fracture Mechanics (EPFM) parameter J-Integral are the most imperative fracture parameters used to determine the structural integrity of components with flaws. This work deals with the evaluation of Stress intensity factor and J-integral for Center Cracked Tensile (CCT) specimens using the versatile Finite Element Analysis (FEA) package ANSYS. Alternate methods used for evaluating stress intensity factor such as stress extrapolation method and displacement extrapolation method have also been demonstrated. Different aspect ratios have been selected for the evaluation. The FEA results have been compared with that obtained by empirical means. An attempt has also been made to compute the critical crack length of a CCT specimen with a center through crack. Evaluation of critical crack lengths have been made under different loading cases, purely with the aid of FEA package ANSYS. J-integral evaluation depends on material non-linearity. The material curve for non-linear analysis have been generated using inverse Ramberg-Osgood relationship. ASTM A 36 steel used for common structural and plate applications is designated as the material for analysis. The ability of FEA to determine the fracture parameters has been successfully studied by this work.
Keywords: Stress Intensity Factor, J-Integral, Center Cracked Tensile Specimen, Stress Extrapolation, Displacement Extrapolation, Finite Element Analysis, Critical Crack Length.

Scope of the Article: Predictive Analysis