Numerical simulation of fatigue plasticity-induced crack closure for through cracks with curved fronts

The plasticity-induced crack closure of through-thickness cracks, in CT specimens of 304L austenitic stainless steel, is numerically simulated using finite elements. Crack propagation is achieved through node releasing, by applying constant DK amplitude, so as to limit the loading history influence. The calculation of the effective stress intensity factor range, Delta K-eff, along different shapes of crack fronts close to real crack fronts, are compared to calculation previously performed for through-thickness straight cracks. The results for the curved crack fronts support that DKeff is the driving force of the propagating crack. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.