Determination of Crack Propagation Using Indirect Boundary Element Methods

Abstract

Bahattin Kimence and Ugur Kimence

In this study, boundary element equations were formulated by deriving the influence functions of displacement discontinuity in an isotropic elastic medium. For the solution of two-dimensional elastic fracture problems, a Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM) formulation was used in conjunction with the fictitious stress method (FSM). These two different boundary element equations were applied together to crack problems, and the effectiveness of this method was investigated. In these applications, the Mode I and Mode II stress intensity factors at the crack tips, as well as the stresses and displacements in the cracks, were calculated. Several numerical examples were presented, and the Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) results were compared with existing analytical or reference solutions. Subsequently, by analyzing the crack tips, the crack propagation direction was determined, and the maximum fracture toughness of the crack was identified.

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