Study of the stress intensity factor analysis through thickness: methodological aspects.

This paper is focused on the methodological aspects of the numerical study of stress intensity factor (SIF) evolution through thickness. The work evaluates the modelling of an Al-alloy 2024-T351 CT specimen under mode I nominal loading in fracture. No plastic wake effect is introduced to separate the influence of plasticity-induced crack closure near the surface. Numerical models have shown the complexity 3-D behaviour in the vicinity of the crack front and finite element methods (FEM) are widely used in these problems with interesting results. However, there is a lack of literature support in many simplifying assumptions. In previous studies, authors have analysed some issues as the evolution of the plastic zone, the crack closure stress or the SIF. The current work attempts to describe and justify the key aspects of the methodology developed to address these problems by the FEM. A huge effort has been made to study main parameters involved and their influence in the results, especially in order to properly capture the SIF distribution along the thickness. Recommendations about mesh density are provided, and the main procedures to obtain K are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]