Fatigue crack growth modelling and analysis

• Main Author: Kabillen, T.
• Other Authors: Pang Hock Lye, John
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/176784
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Fatigue analysis plays a crucial role in assessing the structural integrity of a product, offering engineers an initial insight into the operational lifespan of a specimen before a potential failure. Fatigue analysis can be split into three categories experimental, theoretical, and simulated results. With greater focus placed upon safety across different industries, more preventive measures are being determined to reduce the chances of failure by fatigue. Hence, this warrants the requirement to evolve with technology to find accurate methods of providing estimations. This report discusses the accuracy of newer methods using simulations, specifically ABAQUS XFEM, to provide a comparison between experimental and simulated results for a semi elliptical crack. The method to conduct fatigue analysis using ABAQUS is not well documented through research. Hence, this report aims to covers various literature pertinent towards having a better understanding of fatigue analysis involved in the simulations. Analysis is conducted on other softwares available in the market catering to fatigue life estimations. The simulations are compared with actual experimental data for a semi-elliptical crack using different case studies and analyses the sensitivities of variables such as Paris law coefficients, thickness, size, shape of initial crack and provides input on the suitability of magnification factor used to tailor the results close to experimental results. The method involved in ABAQUS XFEM to conduct analysis, challenges and solutions have been documented for further research. Lastly, opportunities for future developments to conduct initial estimations of magnification factor and research models to replicate in ABAQUS have been suggested.