ANSYS Mechanical APDL Fracture Analysis Guide

Fracture Analysis Guide
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Table of Contents
1. Understanding Fracture Mechanics ........................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Introduction to Fracture Mechanics ................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1. Understanding Fracture Modes ................................................................................................ 1
1.1.2. Understanding the Fracture Parameters .................................................................................... 2
1.1.2.1. J-integral ......................................................................................................................... 2
1.1.2.1.1. J-integral as a Stress-Intensity Factor ....................................................................... 3
1.1.2.2. Energy-Release Rate ........................................................................................................ 3
1.1.2.3. Stress-Intensity Factor ..................................................................................................... 4
1.1.2.4. T-stress ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.1.2.5. Material Force ................................................................................................................. 5
1.1.2.6. C*-integral ...................................................................................................................... 8
1.1.3. Understanding Crack-Growth Simulation .................................................................................. 8
1.1.3.1. SMART Crack-Growth Method ......................................................................................... 8
1.1.3.2. VCCT-Based Interface Element Method ............................................................................ 8
1.1.3.3. Cohesive Zone Method .................................................................................................... 8
1.1.3.4. Gurson’s Model Method ................................................................................................... 9
1.1.3.5. XFEM-Based Method ....................................................................................................... 9
1.2. Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved ........................................................... 9
1.2.1. Modeling the Crack-Tip Region ................................................................................................ 9
1.2.1.1. Modeling 2-D Linear Elastic Fracture Problems .............................................................. 10
1.2.1.2. Modeling 3-D Linear Elastic Fracture Problems .............................................................. 10
1.2.2. How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated ............................................................................ 12
1.2.2.1. Methods Used for Calculating the Fracture Parameters ................................................... 12
1.2.2.2. Domain Integral Method for Calculating the Fracture Parameters ................................... 12
1.3. Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters ........................................................................... 13
1.3.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Fracture-Parameter Calculation .............................................................. 13
1.3.2. Step 2: Specify the Type of Fracture-Parameter Calculation ...................................................... 14
1.3.3. Step 3: Define Crack Information ............................................................................................. 14
1.3.3.1. Define the Crack-Tip Node Component and Crack-Plane Normal (CINT,CTNC) ................ 15
1.3.3.1.1. Inspect the Local Coordinate Systems at the Crack Tip ........................................... 16
1.3.3.1.1.1. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction (CINT,EDIR) ............................... 16
1.3.3.1.1.2. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction via a Crack-Assist Node
(CINT,CTNC) ................................................................................................................. 17
1.3.3.2. Define the Crack-Extension Node Component and Crack-Extension Direction
(CINT,CENC) ............................................................................................................................. 17
1.3.4. Step 4: Specify the Number of Contours (if Needed) ................................................................ 18
1.3.5. Step 5: Define a Crack-Symmetry Condition (if Needed) ........................................................... 19
1.3.6. Step 6: Specify Output Controls .............................................................................................. 19
1.3.6.1. Postprocessing Fracture Parameters ............................................................................... 19
1.4. Learning More About Fracture Mechanics ....................................................................................... 19
2. Fracture Parameter Calculation Types .................................................................................................. 23
2.1. J-integral Calculation ...................................................................................................................... 25
2.1.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Representation of the J-integral ....................................... 25
2.1.1.1. Virtual Crack-Extension Nodes and J-integral Contours ................................................... 26
2.1.1.2. Material Behavior .......................................................................................................... 27
2.1.2. Performing the J-integral Calculation ...................................................................................... 27
2.2. Stress-Intensity Factors (SIFS) Calculation ........................................................................................ 27
2.2.1. Understanding Interaction Integral Formulation ..................................................................... 27
2.2.2. Understanding the Local Crack-Tip Coordinate System Specification ....................................... 28
2.2.3. Selecting Auxiliary Crack-Tip Stress Fields ............................................................................... 29
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2.2.4. Performing the Stress-Intensity Factors Calculation ................................................................. 29

2.3. T-stress Calculation ......................................................................................................................... 30
2.3.1.T-Stress Interaction Integral Formulation ................................................................................. 30
2.3.2. Material Behavior ................................................................................................................... 30
2.3.3. Limitations ............................................................................................................................. 31
2.3.4. Performing the T-stress Calculation ......................................................................................... 31
2.4. Material Force Calculation ............................................................................................................... 31
2.4.1. Understanding the Material Force Approach ........................................................................... 31
2.4.1.1. Virtual Crack-Extension Nodes and Material Force Contours ............................................ 33
2.4.1.2. Material Behavior .......................................................................................................... 34
2.4.2. Calculating Material Force ...................................................................................................... 34
2.5. C*-integral Calculation .................................................................................................................... 34
2.5.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Method .......................................................................... 34
2.5.2. Material Behavior ................................................................................................................... 35
2.5.3. Performing the C*-integral Calculation ................................................................................... 35
2.6. VCCT Energy-Release Rate Calculation ............................................................................................. 36
2.6.1. Using VCCT for Energy-Release Rate Calculation ...................................................................... 36
2.6.1.1. 2-D Crack Geometry ...................................................................................................... 36
2.6.1.2. 3-D Crack Geometry ...................................................................................................... 37
2.6.1.3. Mesh and Material Behavior ........................................................................................... 38
2.6.2. Performing the Energy-Release Rate Calculation ..................................................................... 38
2.6.2.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Energy-Release Rate Calculation .................................................... 39
2.6.2.2. Step 2: Define Crack Information .................................................................................... 39
2.6.2.2.1. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Flat .................................... 39
2.6.2.2.2. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Not Flat ............................... 40
2.6.2.3. Step 3: Define a Crack Symmetry Condition .................................................................... 42
2.6.2.4. Step 4: Specify Output Controls ...................................................................................... 42
2.7. Unstructured Mesh Method (UMM) ................................................................................................. 43
2.7.1. Fracture Mechanics Parameters Supported by UMM ............................................................... 43
2.7.2. UMM Default Settings ............................................................................................................ 43
2.7.3. UMM Assumptions and Restrictions ........................................................................................ 44
3. Crack-Growth Simulation, Interface Delamination, and Fatigue Crack Growth ................................... 45
3.1. Understanding Crack-Growth Mechanics ......................................................................................... 46
3.1.1. Static Crack-Growth Mechanics .............................................................................................. 46
3.1.1.1. K-Based Crack-Growth Criterion ..................................................................................... 46
3.1.1.2. J-integral Crack-Growth Criterion ................................................................................... 47
3.1.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Mechanics ............................................................................................ 47
3.1.2.1. Paris' Law ...................................................................................................................... 48
3.1.2.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Calculation .................................................................................. 49
3.2. SMART Method for Crack-Growth Simulation ................................................................................... 49
3.2.1. Understanding a SMART Crack-Growth Simulation .................................................................. 50
3.2.1.1. Creating a Finite Element Model with an Initial Crack ..................................................... 50
3.2.1.2. Defining the Fracture-Parameter Calculation Set ............................................................ 51
3.2.1.3. Defining the Fracture Criterion ....................................................................................... 51
3.2.1.3.1. Static Crack-Growth Criterion ................................................................................ 52
3.2.1.3.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Criterion ............................................................................. 52
3.2.1.4. Setting Crack-Growth Solution Controls ......................................................................... 52
3.2.1.5. Specifying the Crack-Extension Increments in a Step ...................................................... 53
3.2.2. Performing the SMART Crack-Growth Calculation ................................................................... 55
3.2.2.1. Static Crack-Growth Calculation ..................................................................................... 55
3.2.2.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Calculation .................................................................................. 56
3.2.3. SMART Crack-Growth Assumptions and Limitations ................................................................ 57
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3.2.4. Postprocessing SMART Crack-Growth Analysis Results ............................................................ 57

3.2.5. Example: Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Using SMART ............................................................ 58
3.2.5.1. Input File Used in This Example ...................................................................................... 59
3.3. VCCT-Based Crack-Growth Simulation ............................................................................................. 66
3.3.1. VCCT Crack-Growth Simulation Process .................................................................................. 67
3.3.1.1. Step 1. Create a Finite Element Model with a Predefined Crack Path ................................ 67
3.3.1.1.1. Generating Interface Elements via CZMESH .......................................................... 68
3.3.1.2. Step 2. Perform the Energy-Release Rate Calculation ....................................................... 68
3.3.1.3. Step 3. Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation ................................................................ 69
3.3.1.3.1. Step 3a. Initiate the Crack-Growth Set .................................................................... 69
3.3.1.3.2. Step 3b. Specify the Crack Path .............................................................................. 69
3.3.1.3.3. Step 3c. Specify the Crack-Calculation ID and Fracture Criterion ............................. 69
3.3.1.3.4. Step 3d: Specify Solution Controls for Crack Growth ............................................... 70
3.3.1.4. Example: Crack-Growth Set Definition ............................................................................ 71
3.3.2. Crack Extension ...................................................................................................................... 71
3.3.3. Fracture Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 72
3.3.3.1. Critical Energy-Release Rate Criterion ............................................................................. 72
3.3.3.2. Linear Fracture Criterion ................................................................................................ 73
3.3.3.3. Bilinear Fracture Criterion .............................................................................................. 73
3.3.3.4. B-K Fracture Criterion ..................................................................................................... 74
3.3.3.5. Modified B-K Fracture Criterion ...................................................................................... 75
3.3.3.6. Power Law Fracture Criterion ......................................................................................... 75
3.3.3.7. User-Defined Fracture Criterion ...................................................................................... 76
3.3.4. Example: Crack-Growth Simulation ......................................................................................... 78
3.3.5. VCCT Crack-Growth Simulation Assumptions .......................................................................... 82
3.4. Modeling Interface Delamination with Interface Elements ............................................................... 83
3.4.1. Analyzing Interface Delamination ........................................................................................... 83
3.4.2. Interface Elements ................................................................................................................. 84
3.4.2.1. Element Definition ........................................................................................................ 84
3.4.2.2. Element Selection .......................................................................................................... 84
3.4.3. Material Definition ................................................................................................................. 85
3.4.3.1. Material Characteristics .................................................................................................. 85
3.4.3.2. Material Constants -- Exponential Law ............................................................................ 85
3.4.3.3. Material Constants -- Bilinear Law .................................................................................. 85
3.4.3.4. Viscous Regularization for Cohesive Zone Material (CZM) ............................................... 87
3.4.4. Meshing and Boundary Conditions ......................................................................................... 87
3.4.4.1. Meshing ........................................................................................................................ 87
3.4.4.2. Boundary Conditions ..................................................................................................... 87
3.4.5. Solution Procedure and Result Output .................................................................................... 87
3.4.6. Reviewing the Results ............................................................................................................ 88
3.4.6.1. Reviewing Results in POST1 ........................................................................................... 88
3.4.6.2. Reviewing Results in POST26 ......................................................................................... 89
3.5. Modeling Interface Delamination with Contact Elements (Debonding) ............................................ 89
3.5.1. Analyzing Debonding ............................................................................................................ 89
3.5.2. Contact Elements ................................................................................................................... 90
3.5.3. Material Definition ................................................................................................................. 90
3.5.3.1. Material Characteristics .................................................................................................. 90
3.5.3.2. Bilinear Material Behavior - Contact (TBOPT = CBDD and CBDE) ..................................... 91
3.5.3.3. Bilinear Material Behavior - Interface (TBOPT = BILI) ....................................................... 92
3.5.3.4. Exponential Material Behavior (TBOPT = EXPO) .............................................................. 92
3.5.3.5. Post-Debonding Behavior at the Contact Interface ......................................................... 92
3.5.4. Result Output ......................................................................................................................... 93
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3.6. XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation ............................................................... 93

3.6.1. XFEM Overview ...................................................................................................................... 95
3.6.2. XFEM Analysis Methods .......................................................................................................... 95
3.6.2.1. Singularity-Based Method .............................................................................................. 95
3.6.2.2. Phantom-Node Method ................................................................................................. 96
3.6.3. Defining the Model in an XFEM Analysis ................................................................................. 97
3.6.3.1. Step 1: Define the Crack-Enrichment Parameters ............................................................ 97
3.6.3.2. Step 2: Define the Enhancement Radius to Account for Crack-Tip Singularity Effects ........ 98
3.6.3.3. Step 3: Define the Snap Tolerance to Snap Crack Tip to Element Face .............................. 99
3.6.3.4. Step 4: Define the Initial Crack ...................................................................................... 100
3.6.3.4.1. Level-Set Method ................................................................................................ 100
3.6.3.4.2. MESH200 Element Method .................................................................................. 102
3.6.4. XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis .................................................................................. 107
3.6.4.1. Understanding XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis .................................................. 107
3.6.4.1.1. Level-Set Values for Uncracked Elements Surrounding the Crack Tip ..................... 108
3.6.4.2. Performing the XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis .................................................. 108
3.6.4.3. Example: XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis ........................................................... 108
3.6.4.3.1. Input File Used in This Example ............................................................................ 111
3.6.5. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Analysis ...................................................................................... 114
3.6.5.1. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Process ............................................................. 114
3.6.5.1.1. Step 1: Define an Initial Crack .............................................................................. 114
3.6.5.1.2. Step 2: Define the Crack-Growth Criterion ............................................................ 115
3.6.5.1.2.1. Understanding the Criteria ......................................................................... 115
3.6.5.1.2.2. Specifying the Criteria ................................................................................ 116
3.6.5.1.2.3. Direction of Crack Propagation ................................................................... 116
3.6.5.1.3. Step 3: Define the Decay of Stresses on the Newly Created Crack Segments .......... 116
3.6.5.1.4. Step 4: Specify Cohesive Zone Behavior on Initial Crack ....................................... 117
3.6.5.1.4.1. Contact Behavior of Crack Faces .................................................................. 117
3.6.5.1.5. Step 6: Perform the Crack-Growth Criterion Evaluation ......................................... 117
3.6.5.1.6. Step 7: Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation ...................................................... 118
3.6.5.1.6.1. Smoothing the Crack Front ......................................................................... 119
3.6.5.2. Example: XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation ........................................................... 119
3.6.5.2.1. Input File Used in This Example ............................................................................ 122
3.6.5.3. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Assumptions ..................................................... 124
3.6.6. Postprocessing XFEM Analysis Results ................................................................................... 125
3.6.7. XFEM Crack-Growth Simulation References ........................................................................... 125
3.7. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth ................................................................................................ 126
3.7.1. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth in Mechanical APDL ........................................................ 127
3.7.1.1. Valid Loading Types ..................................................................................................... 128
3.7.1.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Methods ....................................................................... 129
3.7.1.2.1. Life-Cycle (LC) Method ........................................................................................ 130
3.7.1.2.2. Cycle-by-Cycle (CBC) Method .............................................................................. 130
3.7.2. Performing an XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis ................................................... 131
3.7.2.1. Step 1. Define an Initial Crack ....................................................................................... 131
3.7.2.2. Step 2. Specify the Fatigue Crack-Growth Law ............................................................... 132
3.7.2.3. Step 3. Set up the Solution Procedure ........................................................................... 132
3.7.2.4. Step 4. Evaluate the Fracture Parameters ...................................................................... 132
3.7.2.5. Step 5. Set Crack-Growth Calculation Parameters .......................................................... 133
3.7.2.6. Step 6. Calculate the Fatigue Crack Growth ................................................................... 133
3.7.2.6.1. Life-Cycle (LC) Method ........................................................................................ 133
3.7.2.6.2. Cycle-by-Cycle (CBC) Method .............................................................................. 134
3.7.3. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Assumptions .................................................................. 134
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3.7.4. Postprocessing XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Results ...................................... 135

3.7.5. Example: XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis ............................................................ 135
3.7.5.1. Analysis Results ........................................................................................................... 138
3.7.5.2. Input File Used in This Example .................................................................................... 141
3.7.6. References for Fatigue Crack Growth ..................................................................................... 145
Index ........................................................................................................................................................ 147
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List of Figures
1.1. Schematic of the Fracture Modes ............................................................................................................ 2
1.2. Schematic of a Crack Tip ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.3. Matrix with Inclusion .............................................................................................................................. 5
1.4. Thought Experiment Proposed by Eshelby .............................................................................................. 6
1.5. Crack Tip and Crack Front ........................................................................................................................ 9
1.6. Radial Mesh Surrounding a 2-D Crack Tip ............................................................................................... 10
1.7. Using Symmetry to Your Advantage ...................................................................................................... 10
1.8. Structured Hexahedral Mesh Around a Semi-elliptical Crack .................................................................. 11
1.9. Tetrahedral Mesh for an Arbitrary Crack ................................................................................................. 11
1.10. Numerical Evaluation of Fracture Parameter Over Contours in a Region Around the Crack Tip ............... 13
1.11. Schematic Representation of the Crack-Tip Node(s) and Crack-Tip Local Coordinate System (2-D and 3-
D) ............................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.1. Domain Enhancement via Nodal Vectors ............................................................................................... 32
2.2. 2-D Crack Geometry Schematic ............................................................................................................. 37
2.3. 3-D Crack Geometry Schematic ............................................................................................................. 38
3.1. Log-Log Plot of Fatigue Crack-Growth Test ............................................................................................ 48
3.2. Standard Compact-Tension Specimen ................................................................................................... 58
3.3. Crack Path Discretized with Interface Elements ...................................................................................... 67
3.4. Adding Interface Elements Along the Entire Interface ............................................................................ 68
3.5. Deleting Interface Elements on the Initial Crack ..................................................................................... 68
3.6. Crack Growth and Merging ................................................................................................................... 70
3.7. 2-D and 3-D Crack Extension ................................................................................................................. 71
3.8. Crack Growth of a Double-Cantilever Beam ........................................................................................... 78
3.9. Double-Cantilever Beam Mesh ............................................................................................................. 78
3.10. Double-Cantilever Beam Load-Deflection Curve .................................................................................. 79
3.11. Double-Cantilever Beam Contour Plot ................................................................................................. 80
3.12. XFEM Crack Representation in a Finite Element Model ......................................................................... 96
3.13. Phantom-Node Method ...................................................................................................................... 97
3.14. Defining a Crack-Tip Radius to Account for Crack-Tip Singularity Effects ............................................... 99
3.15. Defining Snap Tolerance .................................................................................................................... 100
3.16. Calculating the PHI Level-Set Value .................................................................................................... 101
3.17. Calculating the PSI Level-Set Value .................................................................................................... 102
3.18. 2-D Crack-Surface Definition ............................................................................................................. 104
3.19. 3-D Crack-Surface Definition ............................................................................................................. 104
3.20. Center-Crack Specimen with Meshed Crack Surface ........................................................................... 105
3.21. SEN Specimen ................................................................................................................................... 109
3.22. Finite Element Mesh for the SEN Specimen ........................................................................................ 110
3.23. Equivalent Stress Distribution Following the Analysis ......................................................................... 111
3.24. Evaluation of STTMAX (or PSMAX) Around the Crack Tip .................................................................... 116
3.25. Crack Growth in a Three-Point Bending Specimen .............................................................................. 119
3.26. Material Parameters for Linear Decay of Stresses in Newly Cracked Segments ..................................... 120
3.27.Three-Point Bending Specimen Mesh and Near-Crack Region ............................................................. 120
3.28. Predicted Load-Deflection Curve ....................................................................................................... 121
3.29. Mises Equivalent Stress at the Final Stage .......................................................................................... 122
3.30. Variation of Crack-Growth Rate vs. for Metals ................................................................................ 128
3.31. Valid Loading Type for XFEM-based Fatigue Crack-Growth Simulation ................................................ 129
3.32. SEN Specimen ................................................................................................................................... 136
3.33. Finite Element Mesh for the SEN Specimen ........................................................................................ 137
3.34. Final Displacement Plot After Crack Growth Has Occurred .................................................................. 138
3.35. Equivalent Stress Distribution at the End of the Analysis ..................................................................... 139
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3.36. Variation of the Number of Cycles with Crack Extension ..................................................................... 140
3.37. Variation of with Crack Extension ................................................................................................. 141
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List of Tables
2.1. Element Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation ............................................................................. 23
2.2. Material and Load Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation ............................................................... 24
3.1. Elements Used in an XFEM Analysis ....................................................................................................... 94
3.2. Commands Used in an XFEM Analysis .................................................................................................... 94
3.3. Selecting an XFEM Method ................................................................................................................... 98
3.4. Considerations for Defining the Initial Crack ........................................................................................ 102
3.5. Calculated Results vs. Theorectical Results ........................................................................................... 111
3.6. Dimensions, Parameters and Constants ............................................................................................... 136
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Chapter 1: Understanding Fracture Mechanics
Cracks and flaws occur in many structures and components for several reasons. The material may be
inherently defective. Cracks may be introduced during the manufacturing stage, or later as a result of
environmental conditions. The presence of such cracks or flaws can significantly degrade the structural
integrity of a component under the action of applied loads and environmental conditions.
Fracture mechanics uses concepts from applied mechanics to develop an understanding of the stress
and deformation fields around a crack tip when a crack is present in a structure. A sound knowledge
of these stress and deformation fields helps in developing fail-safe and safe-life designs for structures.
Such fracture-mechanics-based design concepts are widely used, but are not limited to, the fields of
nuclear, aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering.
The following topics concerning fracture analysis are available:

1.1. Introduction to Fracture Mechanics
1.2. Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved
1.3. Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters
1.4. Learning More About Fracture Mechanics
1.1. Introduction to Fracture Mechanics

Structural design concepts traditionally use a strength-of-material approach for designing a component.
This approach does not anticipate the elevated stress levels due to the existence of cracks. The presence
of such stresses can lead to catastrophic failure of the structure.
Fracture mechanics accounts for the cracks or flaws in a structure. The fracture mechanics approach to
the design of structures includes flaw size as one important variable, and fracture toughness replaces
strength of material as a relevant material parameter.
Fracture analysis is typically accomplished using either the energy criterion or the stress-intensity-factor
criterion. For the energy criterion, the energy required for a unit extension of the crack (the energy-release
rate) characterizes the fracture toughness. For the stress-intensity-factor criterion, the critical value of
the amplitude of the stress and deformation fields characterizes the fracture toughness. Under some
circumstances, the two criteria are equivalent.
The following additional topics concerning fracture are available:

1.1.1. Understanding Fracture Modes
1.1.2. Understanding the Fracture Parameters
1.1.3. Understanding Crack-Growth Simulation
1.1.1. Understanding Fracture Modes

Depending on the failure kinematics (that is, the relative movement of the two surfaces of the crack),
three fracture modes are distinguishable, as shown in Figure 1.1: Schematic of the Fracture Modes (p. 2):
• Mode I – Opening or tensile mode
• Mode II – Shearing or sliding mode
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Understanding Fracture Mechanics
• Mode III – Tearing or out-of-plane mode
Fracture is generally characterized by a combination of fracture modes.
Figure 1.1: Schematic of the Fracture Modes
1.1.2. Understanding the Fracture Parameters

Typical fracture mechanics parameters describe either the energy-release rate or the amplitude of the
stress and deformation fields ahead of the crack tip.
The following parameters are widely used in fracture mechanics analysis:

1.1.2.1. J-integral
1.1.2.2. Energy-Release Rate
1.1.2.3. Stress-Intensity Factor
1.1.2.4.T-stress
1.1.2.5. Material Force
1.1.2.6. C*-integral
For more information, see:
• How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated (p. 12)
• Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13)
• Fracture Parameter Calculation Types (p. 23)
1.1.2.1. J-integral
J-integral is one of the most widely accepted fracture mechanics parameters for linear plastic and
nonlinear elastic-plastic materials. The J-integral is defined as follows [2]:
where W is the strain energy density, T is the kinematic energy density, σ represents the stresses, u is
the displacement vector, and Γ is the contour over which the integration is carried out.
For a crack in a linear elastic material, the J-integral represents the energy-release rate. Also, the amp-
litudes of the crack-tip stress and deformation fields are characterized by the J-integral for a crack in a
nonlinear elastic material.
For more information, see J-integral Calculation (p. 25) and J-integral as a Stress-Intensity Factor (p. 3).
2 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Introduction to Fracture Mechanics
1.1.2.1.1. J-integral as a Stress-Intensity Factor

Hutchinson [3] and Rice and Rosengren [4] independently showed that the J-integral characterizes the
crack-tip field in a nonlinear elastic material. They both assumed assumed a power law relationship
between plastic strain and stress. If elastic strain is included, the relationship for uniaxial deformation
is given as:
where σ0 is the reference stress (the yield stress of the material), and ε0 = σ0/E, α is a dimensionless
constant, and n is the hardening component. They showed that, at a distance very close to the crack
tip and well within the plastic zone, the crack-tip stress and strain ahead of crack tip can be expressed
as:
and
For elastic material, n = 1 and the above equation predicts the singularity which is consistent
with linear elastic fracture mechanics.
1.1.2.2. Energy-Release Rate

The energy-release rate, limited to linear elastic fracture mechanics, is based on the energy criterion for
fracture proposed by Griffith and further development by Irwin. In this approach, the crack growth occurs
when the energy available for crack growth is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the material.[1]
The energy-release rate G is defined in elastic materials as the rate of change of potential energy released
from a structure when a crack opens. For example, the following illustration shows a crack of length
2a in a large elastic body with modulus E subject to a tensile stress (σ):
The energy-release rate is given by:
At the moment of fracture, G is equal to the critical energy-release rate Gc, a function of the fracture
toughness. The value of Gc for a material can be determined via a relatively straightforward set of crack
experiments.
For a single-fracture mode, the stress-intensity factor (p. 4) and the energy-release rate are related by:
where G is the energy-release rate, for plane strain, and for plane stress. (E is the material
Young’s modulus, and ν is the Poisson’s ratio.)
For more information, see VCCT Energy-Release Rate Calculation (p. 36).
1.1.2.3. Stress-Intensity Factor

Limited to linear elastic material, the stress and strain fields ahead of the crack tip are expressed as:
where K is the stress-intensity factor, r and θ are coordinates of a polar coordinate system (as shown in
Figure 1.2: Schematic of a Crack Tip (p. 4)). These equations apply to any of the three fracture
modes (p. 1).
Figure 1.2: Schematic of a Crack Tip
For a Mode I crack, the stress field is given as:
For more information, see Stress-Intensity Factors (SIFS) Calculation (p. 27).
1.1.2.4. T-stress
The asymptotic expansion of the stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip, expressed in the local polar
coordinate system described in Figure 1.2: Schematic of a Crack Tip (p. 4), is represented as:
where the first singular terms of this eigen-expansion (the terms involving ) are the stress-intensity
factors, and the first non-singular term (T) is the elastic T-stress.
T-stress is the stress acting parallel to the crack faces. It is tightly linked to the level of crack-tip stress
triaxiality; therefore, its sign and magnitude can substantially change the size and shape of the crack-
tip plastic zone [14]. Negative T-stress values decrease the level of crack-tip triaxiality (leading to larger
plastic zones), while positive values increase the level of triaxiality (leading to smaller plastic zones). A
higher crack-tip triaxiality promotes fracture because the input of external work is dissipated less by
the global plastic deformation and is therefore available to augment local material degradation and
damage [15].
T-stress also plays an important role in the stability of straight crack paths submitted to Mode I loading
conditions. For a small amount of crack growth, cracks with T < 0 have been shown to be stable,
whereas cracks with T > 0 tend to deviate from their initial propagation plane [16].
For more information, see T-stress Calculation (p. 30).
1.1.2.5. Material Force

Used primarily to analyze material defects such as dislocations, voids, interfaces and cracks, material
force (also known as configurational force) can be understood by considering the presence of an inclusion
in an elastic solid (matrix material), as shown in this figure:
Figure 1.3: Matrix with Inclusion
The force exerted by the matrix on the inclusion is the material force. When an inclusion is incorporated
into a stress-free elastic body, the entire body undergoes a deformation, resulting in a configurational
change of the body (or matrix) from its original state. The change in the total energy due to the deform-
ation is characterized by the material force. The material force is typically calculated by evaluating the
energy-momentum tensor (or Eshelby [17] stress tensor).
When the inclusion undergoes a uniform deformation, both the matrix and the inclusion experience
an elastic stress field. Now, consider the following figure:
Figure 1.4: Thought Experiment Proposed by Eshelby
A. Isolate the inclusion from the matrix: No forces are applied to the
inclusion or to the matrix. Because
the inclusion is now isolated, it
undergoes a homogenous
deformation. The strains
experienced by the inclusion are
called eigenstrains. The matrix
remains stress- and strain-free.
B. Recover the original shape of inclusion by applying surface The elastic strains induced in the
forces on the inclusion: inclusion due to applied surface
traction cancel out the
eigenstrains. The surrounding body
remains stress- and strain-free.
C. Replace the inclusion along with the applied surface forces: No change of deformation occurs
in either the inclusion or the
matrix.
D. Remove the applied surface forces: By removing the surface forces, we

return to the original problem of
a body with an inclusion, as shown
in Figure 1.3: Matrix with
Inclusion (p. 5).
The change from step C to step D is that a body force (or surface force on the hole in the matrix where
the inclusion is inserted), equal and opposite to the surface forces in step B, is applied.
The body (or surface) force is the material force. Essentially, the presence of an inclusion creates a
variation in the strain energy density in the matrix material, leading to the material force acting on the
inclusion and being allowed to move through the material.
The material force method essentially determines a vectorial force-like quantity conjugate to the eigen-
strain. As a general description, the material force approach is defined for elasticity as described in
Understanding the Material Force Approach (p. 31). [18]
For a crack in a linear or nonlinear elastic material, the tangential component of the material force
vector to the crack surface represents the energy-release rate. Also, the crack propagation direction and
inhomogeneity, flaws, and mismatched mesh can be characterized by the material force vectors. In
plasticity, the tangential component of the material force vector to the crack surface represents the
crack-driving force. [19]
Material force calculations do not account for surface loads on crack faces.
For more information, see Material Force Calculation (p. 31).
1.1.2.6. C*-integral
As J-integral (p. 2) does for isotropic elastic materials, C*-integral characterizes the crack tip conditions
in homogenous materials undergoing a secondary (steady-state) creeping deformation [20][21]. The
C*-integral is defined as follows:
where is the stress tensor, is the displacement rate vector, is the strain energy rate density,
is the Kronecker delta, is the coordinate axis, and is the crack-extension vector.
For more information, see C*-integral Calculation (p. 34), and C*-integral Evaluation for 3-D Surface
Flaws in the Technology Demonstration Guide.
1.1.3. Understanding Crack-Growth Simulation

Fracture/crack growth is a phenomenon in which two surfaces are separated from each other, or mater-
ial is progressively damaged under external loading. The following methods are available for simulating
such failure:
1.1.3.1. SMART Crack-Growth Method
1.1.3.2. VCCT-Based Interface Element Method
1.1.3.3. Cohesive Zone Method
1.1.3.4. Gurson’s Model Method
1.1.3.5. XFEM-Based Method
For more information, see Crack-Growth Simulation, Interface Delamination, and Fatigue Crack
Growth (p. 45).
1.1.3.1. SMART Crack-Growth Method

Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Technology (SMART) is a computationally efficient,
remeshing-based method for crack-growth simulation. The method uses a combination of techniques
to update mesh changes, local to the crack-front region only, to simulate both static and fatigue crack
growth. For more information, see SMART Method for Crack-Growth Simulation (p. 49).
1.1.3.2. VCCT-Based Interface Element Method

This method uses interface elements (INTERnnn) with VCCT (p. 66) to simulate the fracture by separating
the interface elements between two materials with one or more user-specified fracture criteria. This
approach applies to homogeneous material fracture as well as interfacial fracture in biomaterial systems.
It is most suitable for interface delamination of laminate composites with good numerical stability. For
more information, see VCCT-Based Crack-Growth Simulation (p. 66).
1.1.3.3. Cohesive Zone Method

This method uses interface (INTERnnn) or contact (CONTAnnn) elements to allow the separation of the
surfaces and the cohesive material model to describe the separation behavior of the surfaces. This ap-
Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved
proach applies to both the simulation of fracture in a homogeneous material as well as interfacial
delamination along the interface between two materials. For more information, see Crack-Growth Sim-
ulation, Interface Delamination, and Fatigue Crack Growth (p. 45).
1.1.3.4. Gurson’s Model Method

Gurson's model is a plasticity model (TB,GURSON) used to simulate ductile metal damage. The model
is a micromechanics-based ductile damage model incorporating the void volume fraction into plasticity
constitutive equation to represent the ductile damage process of void grow, void nucleation, and void
coalescence. For more information, see Gurson's Model in the Mechanical APDL Theory Reference and
the TB,GURSON command documentation.
1.1.3.5. XFEM-Based Method

The eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is based on enriching the degrees of freedom in the model
with additional displacement functions that account for the jump in displacements across the crack
surface. The method is used to propagate cracks in linear elastic materials based on user-specified
fracture criteria. For more information, see XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simula-
tion (p. 93).
1.2. Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved

A fracture analysis is a combination of stress analysis and fracture mechanics parameter calculation.
The stress analysis is a standard linear elastic or nonlinear elastic plastic analysis.
Because high stress gradients exist in the region around the crack tip, the finite element modeling of
a component containing a crack requires special attention in that region.
The 2-D and 3-D representations of the region around the crack tip and the terminology used is outlined
in the following section. The edge or tip of the crack is referred to as a crack tip in a 2-D model and
crack front in a 3-D model, as illustrated in Figure 1.5: Crack Tip and Crack Front (p. 9).
Figure 1.5: Crack Tip and Crack Front
(a) 2-D models and (b) 3-D models
The following additional topics related to solving fracture problems are available :
1.2.1. Modeling the Crack-Tip Region
1.2.2. How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated
1.2.1. Modeling the Crack-Tip Region

Stress and deformation fields around the crack tip generally have high gradients. The precise nature of
these fields depends on the material, geometry, and other factors. To capture the rapidly varying stress
and deformation fields, use a refined mesh in the region around the crack tip.
Most of the fracture parameters described in How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated (p. 12) are
evaluated based on a domain integral (p. 12) approach, which requires that the mesh be well-structured.
Typically, radial meshes (in 2-D analysis) around the crack tip or cylindrical meshes (in 3-D analysis)
around the crack front are used so that the fracture parameters can be evaluated accurately.
In some cases, only unstructured meshes or tetrahedral meshes (in 3-D) can be used in the crack tip
(front) regions, so the unstructured mesh method (UMM) (p. 43) is used to calculate the fracture para-
meters.
The following additional topics for modeling the crack-tip region are available:
1.2.1.1. Modeling 2-D Linear Elastic Fracture Problems

The recommended element type for a 2-D fracture model is PLANE183, the 8-node quadratic solid.
Figure 1.6: Radial Mesh Surrounding a 2-D Crack Tip
For reasonable results, the first row of elements around the crack tip should have a radius of approxim-
ately a / 8 or smaller, where a is the crack length. In the circumferential direction, approximately one
element every 15° to 30° is recommended.
Take advantage of symmetry where possible. In many cases, it is necessary to model only one-half of
the crack region, with symmetry or antisymmetry boundary conditions:
Figure 1.7: Using Symmetry to Your Advantage

Generating a 3-D fracture model is not a trivial exercise. ANSYS Mechanical provides ease-of-use tools
enabling you to create structured hexahedral meshes for semi-elliptical cracks. For arbitrary cracks, tet-
rahedral elements are used to mesh the near crack-tip (front) region. Also, ANSYS Mechanical offers a
variety of controls for meshing the region around the crack front.
This figure shows a mesh generated by ANSYS Mechanical in near-region around a semi-elliptical crack
in an X joint:
Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved
Figure 1.8: Structured Hexahedral Mesh Around a Semi-elliptical Crack
The transitions from structured hexahedral mesh around the crack front to the region away from the
crack tip are smooth and seamless.
This figure shows a mesh of tetrahedral elements generated by ANSYS Mechanical in near-region around
an arbitrary crack in an X joint:
Figure 1.9: Tetrahedral Mesh for an Arbitrary Crack
1.2.2. How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated

The following topics for fracture-parameter calculation approaches are available:
1.2.2.1. Methods Used for Calculating the Fracture Parameters
1.2.2.2. Domain Integral Method for Calculating the Fracture Parameters
For more information, see:
• Understanding the Fracture Parameters (p. 2) for a list of available fracture mechanics parameters.
• Fracture Parameter Calculation Types (p. 23) for a list of supported elements, materials, and loads for fracture-
parameter calculations.
• Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13)
1.2.2.1. Methods Used for Calculating the Fracture Parameters

The domain integral method (p. 12) [5] is used to calculate the following fracture parameters:
• J-integral (p. 25)
• Stress-intensity factors (SIFs) (p. 27)
• T-stress (p. 30)
• Material force (p. 31)
• C*-integral (p. 34)
The virtual crack-closure technique (VCCT) is used to calculate the following fracture parameter:
• Energy-release rate (p. 36)
1.2.2.2. Domain Integral Method for Calculating the Fracture Parameters

The fracture parameters are typically expressed as a line integral (p. 2). They are expected to be path-
independent; that is, the line integral calculated along any closed path (including the crack surfaces
and the crack tip) will have the same value.
In the domain integral method, the region in which the integrals are evaluated must be confined to a
small area surrounding the crack-tip region. The contours should not touch the boundaries or interfaces,
nor should they enclose or intersect other inclusions (such as voids or other cracks).
A line integral is converted to an area (for 2-D) or a volume integral (for 3-D) and then suitably discretized.
The discretized integral is evaluated over several contours surrounding the crack tip, as illustrated in
the following figure showing the contour definitions for a 2-D problem:
Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters
Figure 1.10: Numerical Evaluation of Fracture Parameter Over Contours in a Region Around the
Crack Tip
The values of the fracture parameter over the set of contours must be reasonably constant. Use your
engineering judgement to evaluate the path-independence of the fracture parameter.
For detailed information about each fracture parameter, see Fracture Parameter Calculation Types (p. 23).
1.3. Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters

The fracture parameters are evaluated during the solution phase of the analysis after a substep has
converged. The CINT command initiates and defines the parameters necessary for calculation. The results
are stored in the results (.rst) file for postprocessing.
The CINT command initiates the fracture-parameter calculation and specifies options for the calculation,
as shown in the following procedure:
1.3.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Fracture-Parameter Calculation
1.3.2. Step 2: Specify the Type of Fracture-Parameter Calculation
1.3.3. Step 3: Define Crack Information
1.3.4. Step 4: Specify the Number of Contours (if Needed)
1.3.5. Step 5: Define a Crack-Symmetry Condition (if Needed)
1.3.6. Step 6: Specify Output Controls
1.3.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Fracture-Parameter Calculation

Specify the CINT command's NEW option and provide a number to identify the input information for
the calculation.
The command syntax is:
CINT,NEW,n
where n is the number identifying this fracture-parameter calculation.
Example 1.1: Initiating a New Fracture Parameter Calculation

CINT,NEW,1 ! Initiate a new fracture parameter calculation as # 1
1.3.2. Step 2: Specify the Type of Fracture-Parameter Calculation

Request the calculation for the type of fracture parameter (p. 23) under consideration.
CINT,TYPE,FractureParameter
Example 1.2: Input to Evaluate J-integrals (p. 25)

CINT,TYPE,JINT
Example 1.3: Input to Evaluate stress-intensity factors (p. 27) (SIFs)

CINT,TYPE,SIFS
1.3.3. Step 3: Define Crack Information

A fracture-parameter calculation requires the following input:
• The crack-tip (front) nodes
• The local coordinate systems at the crack tip (front)
Figure 1.11: Schematic Representation of the Crack-Tip Node(s) and Crack-Tip Local Coordinate
System (2-D and 3-D)
The crack-extension direction (e1), crack-plane normal (e2) at the tip, and the crack-tangent (e3) at the
tip together constitute an orthonormal local coordinate system at the crack tip.
Important
The crack-tip nodes and the local coordinate system must be defined correctly. After specifying
all parameters, issue the CINT,PLOT command to inspect the local coordinate system.
Two methods are available (via CINT) for specifying the crack-tip node component and one of the
vectors of the local coordinate system. (The other vectors are constructed based on the local element
and nodal connectivity information.)
• Define the crack-tip node component and the crack-plane normal (p. 15) (CINT,CTNC).
This method enables you to specify a crack-tip (front) node component and the normal to the crack
plane. Use this method when the crack plane has the same crack normal at all the crack-tip (front)
nodes. Generally, this approach applies to both plane 2-D crack geometry and 3-D flat crack surfaces.
• Define the crack-extension node component and crack-extension direction (p. 17) (CINT,CENC).
This method applies to problems where a unique normal may not exist. The method involves defining
the crack-extension node component and the crack-extension direction at each crack-tip node location.
Use it in any of the following cases:
– The crack plane is not flat.
– A set of nodes forms the crack tip, as in the case of a collapsed crack-tip mesh.
– 2-D axisymmetric problems exist.
– The crack directions are already known.
1.3.3.1. Define the Crack-Tip Node Component and Crack-Plane Normal (CINT,CTNC)
2-D crack geometry: Define a crack-tip node component (usually a node located at the crack tip). You
can also define a group of nodes around the crack tip, including the node at the crack tip. Mechanical
APDL uses this group of nodes as the starting nodes to form the necessary information for the contour
integration.
3-D flat crack geometry: Define a crack-tip node component that includes all nodes along the crack
front. (Only one node can exist at each node location, however.) All nodes in the crack-tip node com-
ponent must be connectable, and they must form a line (called the crack front) based on the element
connectivity associated with it. Mechanical APDL uses the crack front to determine the elements needed
for the contour integration. The procedure is similar to 2-D crack geometry, and is done through all the
nodes along the crack front.
CINT,CTNC,Par1
where Par1 is the component name.
After defining the crack-tip node component, use the CINT command's NORM option to define the
normal of the crack plane.
CINT,NORM,Par1,Par2
where Par1 is the coordinate system number and Par2 is the axis of coordinate system defining the
normal of the crack plane.
Mechanical APDL calculates crack-extension vector based on the information provided. The crack-exten-
sion vector is taken along the perpendicular direction to the plane formed by the crack-plane normal
and the tangent direction of the crack-tip node, and is normalized to a unit vector.
Example 1.4: Defining the Crack-Tip Node Component and Crack-Plane Normal
! local coordinate system
LOCAL,11,0,,,,
! select nodes located along the crack front and
! define it as crack front/tip node component
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip
CM,CRACK_TIP_NODE_CM
! Define a new stress-intensity factors calculation
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,CTNC,CRACK_TIP_NODE_CM
CINT,NORM,11,2
Important
Before proceeding, inspect the local coordinate systems at the crack tip to ensure that the
crack-extension directions are consistent (CINT,PLOT). If they are inconsistent, you must
provide additional information to obtain the correct crack-extension directions. See Inspect
the Local Coordinate Systems at the Crack Tip (p. 16).
1.3.3.1.1. Inspect the Local Coordinate Systems at the Crack Tip

The specification of the crack-normal and the crack-tangent (along the crack-front) is sometimes inad-
equate for evaluating the crack-extension directions.
After defining crack information (p. 14) for fracture-parameter calculation, plot the crack-tip extension
directions and normal (CINT,PLOT) before proceeding with the analysis.
Important
If the crack-extension directions are inconsistent, you must provide additional information
to obtain the correct crack-extension directions.
You can use either of these methods to provide additional information to control crack-extension direc-
tions:
1.3.3.1.1.1. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction (CINT,EDIR)
1.3.3.1.1.2. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction via a Crack-Assist Node (CINT,CTNC)
If neither method provides the crack-extension directions needed, use the crack-extension node-com-
ponent (p. 17) approach (CINT,CENC) to define the local coordinate system.
1.3.3.1.1.1. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction (CINT,EDIR)
The crack-extension directions are primarily calculated using the tangent to the crack-front and the
crack-normal. The crack-assist node or the crack-assist extension direction is used only to flip the crack-
extension in the appropriate direction.
Issue the CINT,EDIR command to provide an approximate crack-extension direction at any node on the
crack front. You can either use the vector form or provide a coordinate system and an axis.
An approximate direction at the reference node provided (optional) is sufficient for Mechanical APDL
to properly evaluate the crack-extension directions. If the crack-front extension directions at the crack
tips change by more than 180 degrees, the reference node is required.
The command syntax is, respectively:
CINT,EDIR,CS,CSID,AXIS,,REFERENCENODE
CINT,EDIR,COMP,XVAL,YVAL,ZVAL,REFERENCENODE
1.3.3.1.1.2. Specify the Crack-Assist Extension Direction via a Crack-Assist Node (CINT,CTNC)
Alternatively, you can issue the CINT,CTNC command to use the assist node to provide an approximate
crack-extension direction.
CINT,CTNC,Par1,Par2,Par3
where Par2 defines the crack-extension direction calculation-assist node (any node on the open side
of the crack), and Par3 is the crack-front’s end-node crack-extension direction-override flag.
By default, Mechanical APDL uses the external surface to determine the crack-extension direction and
normal when the crack-tip node meets the free surface; however, you can use Par3 to override the
default behavior with the calculated coordinate system.
1.3.3.2. Define the Crack-Extension Node Component and Crack-Extension Direction

(CINT,CENC)
Use this method when the crack plane is not flat, or when a set of nodes form the crack tip, as in the
case of a collapsed crack-tip mesh:
1. Define a node component consisting of one or more nodes forming the crack tip. The node component
can have one or more nodes.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName
2. Identify the crack-tip node separately if the node component has more than one node. If a crack-tip
node is not identified, the program considers the first node of the node component to be the first node.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1
3. Define the crack-extension direction.
Identify the local coordinate system associated with the crack under consideration.
Identify the local axis for the given local coordinate system along which the crack should extend.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1,11,2
Alternatively, define the crack-extension direction by directly specifying the global X Y and Z com-
ponents of the crack-extension vector.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1,,,compx,compy,compz
Repeat this method for all node locations along the crack front.
Although Mechanical APDL calculates the local coordinate system at the crack tip to determine stress-
intensity factors, it is generally a better practice to use the CINT command's NORM option to help align
the calculated normals of the crack-tip nodes.
Example 1.5: Defining the Crack-Extension Node Component and Crack-Extension Direction via
Local Coordinate Systems (CINT,CENC)
! Crack-extension node component and
! crack-extension direction specification using local coordinate systems
local,11,0,,,,
local,12,0,,,,
! …
local,n,0,,,,
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip1
CM,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CM1
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip2
! …
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctipn
CM,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CMn
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,CENC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CM1,,11,2
! …
CINT,CENC, CRACK_FRONT_NODE_Cn,,n,2
Example 1.6: Defining the Crack-Extension Node Component and Crack-Extension Direction via
Vectors (CINT,CENC)
! crack-extension direction specification using vectors
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip1
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip2
! …
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctipn
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,CENC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CM1,,,,Vx1,Vy1,Vz1
! …
CINT,CENCOMP,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_Cn,,,,Vxn,Vyn,Vzn
1.3.4. Step 4: Specify the Number of Contours (if Needed)

The command syntax for specifying the number of contours is:
Learning More About Fracture Mechanics
CINT,NCON,n
where n is the number of contours.
For 3-D crack geometry, every node along the crack front has the same number of contours.
Example 1.7: Specifying the Number of Contours

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,CTNC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_SET,NODE
CINT,NCON,6
1.3.5. Step 5: Define a Crack-Symmetry Condition (if Needed)

The command syntax for defining a symmetric condition is:
CINT,SYMM,ON
Example 1.8: Defining a Crack-Symmetry Condition

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,SYMM,ON ! crack #1 is a symmetrical crack
1.3.6. Step 6: Specify Output Controls

Mechanical APDL calculates the fracture parameters during the solution phase of the analysis and stores
it in the results file for postprocessing. The output uses all defaults from the OUTRES command.
The command OUTRES,ALL includes CINT command results. To control the output for specific fracture-
parameter results only, issue an OUTRES,CINT command.
Example 1.9: Specifying Output Controls

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,SYMM,ON
CINT,NCON,5
OUTRES,CINT,10 ! output CINT results every 10 substeps
1.3.6.1. Postprocessing Fracture Parameters

To print or display various fracture parameters during postprocessing, issue the PRCINT or PLCINT
command, respectively.
1.4. Learning More About Fracture Mechanics

A considerable body of literature exists concerning fracture mechanics. The following list of resources
offers a wealth of information but is by no means exhaustive:
1. Anderson, T. L. Fracture Mechanics -- Fundamentals and Applications. 2nd ed., Boca Raton: CRC, 1994.
2. Rice, J. R.“A Path Independent Integral and the Approximate Analysis of Strain Concentration by Notched
and Cracks.” Journal of Applied Mathematics. 35 (1968): 379-386.
3. Hutchinson, J. W.“Singular Behavior at the End of a Tensile Crack in a Hardening Material.” Journal of the
Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 16, 1 (1968): 13-31.
4. Rice, J. R. and G. F. Rosengren.“Plane Strain Deformation Near a Crack Tip in a Power Law Hardening Ma-
terial.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 16 (1968): 1-12.
5. Shih, C. F., B. Moran, and T. Nakamura.“Energy Release Rate Along a Three-Dimensional Crack Front in a
Thermally Stressed Body.” International Journal of Fracture. 30, 2 (1986): 79-102.
6. Rybicki, E.F. and M.F. Kanninen.“A Finite Element Calculation of Stress-Intensity Factors by a Modified Crack
Closure Integral.” Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 9 (1977): 931-938.
7. Benzeggagh, M. and M. Kenane.“Measurement of Mixed-Mode Delamination Fracture Toughness of Uni-

directional Glass/Epoxy Composites with Mixed-Mode Bending Apparatus.” Composite Science and Technology.
56 (1996): 439-449.
8. Reeder, J.R.“A Bilinear Failure Criterion for Mixed-Mode Delamination in Composite Materials.” Testing and
Design. ASTM STP 1206. 11 (1993): 303-322.
9. Reeder, J., S. Kyongchan, P. B. Chunchu, and D. R.. Ambur. Postbuckling and Growth of Delaminations in
Composite Plates Subjected to Axial Compression. 43rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures. Structural
Dynamics, and Materials Conference. Denver. 1746 (2002): 10.
10. Wu, E. M. and R. C. Reuter Jr. Crack Extension in Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics. University of Illinois. T/AM Report.
275 (1965).
11. Krueger, R. The Virtual Crack Closure Technique: History, Approach and Applications. ICASE Report No. 2002-
10, 2002.
12. Toshio, N. and D. M. Parks.“Determination of Elastic T-stress Along Three-Dimensional Crack Fronts Using
an Interaction Integral.” International Journal of Solids and Structures . 29, 13 (1992): 1597-1611.
13. Zhao, L. G., J. Tong, and J. Byrne.“Stress-Intensity Factor K and the Elastic T-stress for Corner Cracks.” Inter-
national Journal of Fracture. 109, 2 (2001): 209-225.
14. Carlsson, A. J.“Influence of Non-Singular Stress Terms and Specimen Geometry on Small-Scale Yielding at
Crack Tips in Elastic-Plastic Materials.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 21, 4 (1973): 263-277.
15. Hackett, E. M. and K. H. Schwalbe.“Constraint Effects in Fracture.” ASTM International -- Committee E08 on
Fatigue and Fracture. 1171 (1993).
16. Cotterell, B. and J. Rice.“Slightly Curved or Kinked Cracks.” International Journal of Fracture. 16, 2 (1980):
155-169.
17. Eshelby, J. D.“The Determination of the Elastic Field of an Ellipsoidal Inclusion and Related Problems.”
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 241, 1226 (1957):
376-396.
18. Braun, M. (1997).“Configurational forces induced by finite-element discretization.” Proceedings of the Esto-
nian Academy of Sciences, Physics and Mathematics. 35 (1997): 379-386.
19. Näser, B., M. Kaliske and R. Müller. "Material Forces for Inelastic Models at Large Strains: Application to
Fracture Mechanics." Computational Mechanics. 40, 6 (2007): 1005-1013.
20. Riedel, H. "Tensile Cracks In Creeping Solids." Fracture Mechanics: Twelfth Conference. ASTM STP 700 (1980):
112-130.
Learning More About Fracture Mechanics
21. Riedel, H. "Creep Deformation at Crack Tips in Elastic-viscoplastic Solids." J. Mech. Phys. Solids. 29 (1981):
35-49.
Chapter 2: Fracture Parameter Calculation Types
The following types of fracture parameter (p. 2) calculations are available:
• J-integral (p. 25) (CINT,TYPE,JINT)
• Stress-intensity factors (p. 27) (CINT,TYPE,SIFS)
• T-stress (p. 30) (CINT,TYPE,TSRESS)
• Material force (p. 31) (CINT,TYPE,MFOR)
• C*-integral (p. 34) (CINT,TYPE,CSTAR)
• VCCT energy-release rate (p. 36) (CINT,TYPE,VCCT)
Also see Unstructured Mesh Method (UMM) (p. 43). The UMM a numerical tool for evaluating fracture
mechanics parameters more accurately in cases where unstructured hexahedral meshes and tetrahedral
meshes are used.
Table 2.1: Element Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation
Element Type Description Parameter Calculations Supported

PLANE182 2-D 4-Node Structural J-integral (p. 25)
[1] Solid VCCT energy-release rate (p. 36)
PLANE183 2-D 8-Node or 6-Node Stress-intensity factors (p. 27)
[1] Structural Solid T-stress (p. 30)
Material force (p. 31)
C*-integral (p. 34)
SOLID185 3-D 8-Node Structural J-integral (p. 25) (UMM (p. 43)
[2] Solid optional)
SOLID186 3-D 20-Node Structural VCCT energy-release rate (p. 36)
[2] Solid Stress-intensity factors (p. 27)
(UMM (p. 43) optional)
T-stress (p. 30)
C*-integral (p. 34)
SOLID187 3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral J-integral (p. 25) (UMM (p. 43)
Structural Solid optional)
Stress-intensity factors (p. 27)
T-stress (p. 30)
C*-integral (p. 34)
SOLID285 3-D 4-Node Tetrahedral J-integral (p. 25)(UMM (p. 43)
Structural Solid with optional)
Nodal Pressures
Fracture Parameter Calculation Types
Element Type Description Parameter Calculations Supported

Stress-intensity factors (p. 27)
1. KEYOPT(3) > 3 is not supported for element types PLANE182 and PLANE183.
2. KEYOPT(3) = 1 is not supported for element types SOLID185 and SOLID186.
Table 2.2: Material and Load Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation
Fracture Parameter Material Models Load Types Supported

Supported
FEM J-integral (p. 25) • Linear isotropic elasticity • Crack surface pressure
• Isotropic plasticity • Body force [1]
• Temperature
• Initial strains
Stress-intensity • Linear isotropic elasticity • Crack surface pressure

factors (p. 27)
• Body force [1]
• Temperature
• Initial strains
T-stress (p. 30) • Linear isotropic elasticity • Temperature
C*-integral (p. 34) • Secondary (steady-state) • Crack surface pressure

creep material
• Temperature
VCCT (p. 36) • Linear isotropic elasticity • Crack surface pressure
• Isotropic plasticity • Body force [1]
• Temperature
Material • Linear isotropic elasticity • Crack surface pressure

force (p. 31)
• Isotropic hardening • Temperature
plasticity
• Kinematic hardening
plasticity
• Isotropic hyperelasticity
Singularity-Based
J-integral
(p. 95)
(p. 25) • Linear isotropic elasticity • Temperature
XFEM
J-integral Calculation
Fracture Parameter Material Models Load Types Supported

Supported
Stress-intensity • Linear isotropic elasticity • Temperature
factors (p. 27)
T-stress (p. 30) --
C*-integral (p. 34) --
VCCT (p. 36) Not available --
Material
--
force (p. 31)
1. Includes gravity and centrifugal body forces. For information about how to apply gravity and centrifugal
body forces, see ACEL and OMEGA.
Hints and Requirements for Calculating Fracture Parameters
• Most fracture calculations rely on the element nodal connectivity order and must conform to the pattern
shown for each element as documented.
• Fracture mechanics parameter calculation is accessed via the CINT command.
• For high-order elements, do not drop the middle nodes in the element nodal connectivity when using
the CINT command. In most cases, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using sweeping meshes along the crack
fronts in 3-D modelling. For a more accurate and efficient analysis when a crack-tip-field singularity is
present, use a finer mesh in the near field around the crack than you do in far-field meshes. For 2-D
axisymmetric problems, use a finer mesh in the region near the crack tip.
• If any pressure loads exist on the crack surfaces, they must be applied on solid elements directly.
2.1. J-integral Calculation

The J-integral evaluation is based on the domain integral method by Shih[5]. The domain integration
formulation applies area integration for 2-D problems and volume integration for 3-D problems. Area
and volume integrals offer much better accuracy than contour integral and surface integrals, and are
much easier to implement numerically. The method itself is also easy to use.
The following topics about J-integral calculation are available:

2.1.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Representation of the J-integral
2.1.2. Performing the J-integral Calculation
For a list of supported elements, see Table 2.1: Element Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation (p. 23).
Also see Table 2.2: Material and Load Support for Fracture-Parameter Calculation (p. 24).
2.1.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Representation of the J-integral

For a 2-D problem, the domain integral representation of the J-integral is given by:
where:
= stress tensor
= displacement vector
= strain energy density
= Kronecker delta
= local coordinate axis
= crack-extension vector
= coefficient of thermal expansion
= initial strain tensor
= crack face traction
= integration domain
= crack faces upon which tractions act
The direction of is the x axis of the local coordinate system ahead of the crack tip. The q vector is
chosen as zero at nodes along the contour Γ, and is a unit vector for all nodes inside Γ except the
midside nodes, if there are any, that are directly connected to Γ. The program refers to these nodes
with a unit vector as virtual crack-extension nodes.
For higher-order elements (such as PLANE183 and SOLID186), the vector at midside nodes takes the
averaged values from the corresponding corner nodes.
For a 3-D problem, domain integral representation of the J-integral becomes a volume integration,
which again is evaluated over a group of elements.
2.1.1.1. Virtual Crack-Extension Nodes and J-integral Contours

Virtual crack-extension nodes are one of the most important input data elements required for J-integral
evaluation. It is also referred to as the crack-tip node component.
For a 2-D crack problem, the crack-tip node component usually contains one node which is also the
crack-tip node. The first contour for the area integration of the J-integral is evaluated over the elements
associated with the crack-tip node component. The second contour for the area integration of the J-
integral is evaluated over the elements adjacent to the first contour of elements. This procedure is re-
peated for all contours. To ensure correct results, the elements for the contour integration should not
reach the outer boundary of the model (with the exception of the crack surface).
For a 3-D crack problem, the crack-tip node component consists of the nodes along the crack front.
The crack-tip node component is not required to be sorted. The 3-D J-integral contour follows a procedure
similar to that of the 2-D contour.
Stress-Intensity Factors (SIFS) Calculation
2.1.1.2. Material Behavior

J-integral evaluation supports the following material behaviors:
• Linear isotropic elasticity
• Isotropic plasticity
2.1.2. Performing the J-integral Calculation

The program calculates the J-integral at the solution phase of the analysis after a substep has converged,
then stores the value to the results file.
The CINT command initiates the J-integral calculation and specifies the parameters necessary for the
calculation. See Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13).
Example 2.1: Using the CINT Command for J-integral Calculation

! J-integral calculation using crack-tip node component
! and crack-plane normal
!
LOCAL,11,0,,,,
! select nodes located along the crack front and define
! it as crack front/tip node component
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip
! Define a new J-integral calculation

CINT,NEW,1
CINT, TYPE,JINT
CINT,NORM,11,2
CINT,NCON,6
2.2. Stress-Intensity Factors (SIFS) Calculation

Mechanical APDL uses the interaction integral method (p. 27) to perform the stress-intensity factors
(SIFS) calculation.
The following topics about SIFS calculation are available:

2.2.1. Understanding Interaction Integral Formulation
2.2.2. Understanding the Local Crack-Tip Coordinate System Specification
2.2.3. Selecting Auxiliary Crack-Tip Stress Fields
2.2.4. Performing the Stress-Intensity Factors Calculation
2.2.1. Understanding Interaction Integral Formulation

The interaction integral is defined as:
where:
= stress, strain and displacement (respectively)

= stress, strain and displacement (respectively) of the auxiliary field
and = crack-extension vector
If thermal and initial strains exist in the structure and the surface tractions act on crack faces, the inter-
action integral is expressed as:
where:
= thermal and initial strains (respectively)

= traction on crack surfaces
For higher-order elements (such as PLANE183 and SOLID186), the vector, temperature values and
initial strains at midside nodes takes the averaged values from the corresponding corner nodes.
The interaction integral is associated with the stress-intensity factors as
where:
(i = 1,2,3) = Mode I, II, and III stress-intensity factors

(i = 1,2,3) = auxiliary Mode I, II and III stress-intensity factors
E* = E for plane stress and E* = E / (1 - ν2) for plane strain
E = Young’s modulus
ν = Poisson’s ratio
μ = shear modulus
2.2.2. Understanding the Local Crack-Tip Coordinate System Specification

The auxiliary crack-tip field specified in the equations in Understanding Interaction Integral Formula-
tion (p. 27) is based on the local crack-tip coordinate systems. The auxiliary crack-tip fields are the
asymptotic stress and strain fields for Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III crack configurations. [1]
To ensure the accuracy of the stress-intensity factors calculation, the local crack-tip coordinate
system must have these characteristics:
• The local x axis is pointed to the crack extension.
• The local y axis is pointed to the normal of the crack surfaces or edges.
• The local z-axis is pointed to the tangential direction of the crack front.
The local coordinate systems must be consistent across all nodes along the crack front. A set of incon-
sistent coordinate systems results in no path-dependency of the calculated stress-intensity factors and
irregular behavior of the stress-intensity factor distribution along crack front. Mechanical APDL calculates
Stress-Intensity Factors (SIFS) Calculation
the local coordinate systems based on the input crack front nodes and the normal of the crack surface
or extension directions; however, because there may be insufficient information to determine a set of
consistent coordinate systems, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using either of these CINT command options:
• CINT,CTNC: Define a crack-face node to help identify the coordinate systems.
• CINT,NORM and CINT,CENC: Define the coordinate systems.
2.2.3. Selecting Auxiliary Crack-Tip Stress Fields

For 2-D crack models, the auxiliary field is chosen according to the element type: axisymmetric, plane-
stress, or plane-strain element.
For 3-D crack models, Mechanical APDL checks whether a crack is closed or open. In a closed crack, the
end-points of the crack front are the same (for example, a penny-shaped crack). In an open crack, the
end-points of the crack front are distinct (for example, an edge crack in a compact-tension specimen).
For closed cracks, plane-strain auxiliary fields are used in the SIFS calculations.
For an open crack front, plane-stress auxiliary fields are used at the end nodes of the crack front, while
plane-strain auxiliary fields are used at the interior nodes during the SIFS calculations.
For an open crack, you can control the behavior of auxiliary fields via Par2 on the CINT command
(CINT,TYPE,SIFS,Par2 command):
• Default: Plane-stress at the end nodes of an open crack front, and plane-strain auxiliary fields on the interior
nodes of the crack front (CINT,TYPE,SIFS or CINT,TYPE,SIFS,0).
• Plane-stress auxiliary fields over the entire open crack front (CINT,TYPE,SIFS,1).
• Plane-strain auxiliary fields over the entire open crack front (CINT,TYPE,SIFS,2).
2.2.4. Performing the Stress-Intensity Factors Calculation

Mechanical APDL calculates the stress-intensity factors using the interaction integral method (p. 27)
at the solution phase of the analysis, and then stores the values to the results file.
Similar to the domain integral method for J-integral evaluation (p. 25), the interaction integral method
for stress-intensity factors calculation applies area integration for 2-D problems and volume integration
for 3-D problems.
The CINT command initiates the stress-intensity factors calculations and specifies the parameters neces-
sary for the calculation. See Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13).
Example 2.2: Using the CINT Command for Stress-Intensity Factors Calculation
! Stress-intensity factors calculation using the crack-tip
! node component and the crack-plane normal
!
LOCAL,11,0,,,,
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip
! Define a new stress-intensity factors calculation
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,NORM,11,2
CINT, NCON, 6
See VM256 for an example stress-intensity factors evaluation for a center crack in a plate.
2.3. T-stress Calculation

The following topics about T-stress calculation are available:
2.3.1.T-Stress Interaction Integral Formulation
2.3.2. Material Behavior
2.3.3. Limitations
2.3.4. Performing the T-stress Calculation
2.3.1. T-Stress Interaction Integral Formulation

The T-stress parameter is calculated using an interaction integral similar to the one used for the stress-
intensity factors calculation (p. 27). The auxiliary solution used is the solution of a line load of magnitude
f applied along the crack front in the direction of the crack plane [12][13]:
In practice, the magnitude of f is typically 1.
The T-stress itself is extracted from the interaction integral result I as follows:
where:
T = obtained T-stress value

E = Young’s modulus
ν = Poisson’s ratio
ε33= extensional strain at the crack front in the direction tangential to the front

T-stress evaluation supports the following material behavior:
Even if isotropic plasticity behavior is supported, stress-intensity factors and T-stress are strictly valid
under the small-scale yielding assumption; therefore, the crack tip plastic zone must be small. In practice,
the crack tip plastic zone must always be smaller than the last CINT integration contour so that the
interaction integral is calculated on elements that still exhibit a linear elastic behavior.
Material Force Calculation
2.3.3. Limitations
T-stress evaluation does not support:
• Pressure on cracks faces, body force, body temperature, and initial strains
• Axisymmetric problems
2.3.4. Performing the T-stress Calculation

The program calculates the T-stress at the solution phase of the analysis after a substep has converged,
then stores the value to the results file.
The CINT command initiates the T-stress calculation and specifies the parameters necessary for the
calculation. See Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13).
Example 2.3: Using the CINT Command for T-Stress Calculation

! T-stress calculation using the crack-tip node component,
! the crack plane normal and the symmetry conditions
!
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,TSTRESS
CINT, NORM, 2
CINT,SYMM,ON
CINT,NCON,5
2.4. Material Force Calculation

The material force (p. 5) method determines the vectorial force-like quantities conjugated to the
configurational change; that is, the method evaluates the material node point forces corresponding to
the Eshelby stress and the material body forces.
The following topics about material force calculation are available:

2.4.1. Understanding the Material Force Approach
2.4.2. Calculating Material Force
2.4.1. Understanding the Material Force Approach

For a general 2-D problem (in the absence of body forces, thermal strain and dynamic loads), the nodal
material forces are defined as:
The Eshelby stress (Σ) is introduced in small-strain elasticity as:
In finite strain elasticity, the Eshelby stress yields:
In the following figure, the directions of e1 and e2 correspond to the local coordinate system at the
crack tip:
Figure 2.1: Domain Enhancement via Nodal Vectors
Here, e1 is the tangential component of the local coordinate system with respect to the crack surface,
while e2 represents the normal component of the local coordinate system. The tangential component
of the material force vector Fmat, which is in the direction of e1, represents the scalar crack-driven force.
In the numerical evaluation of material force, the material force is calculated based on the resultant of
all the material force vectors in a user-defined domain β surrounding the crack tip.
If the plastic deformations exist in the structure, the material body forces acting on the domain are
expressed as:
where B is the material body forces:
Material Force Calculation
Here, Bp is the material body forces via plasticity, whereas Bt is the material body forces via thermal
stress. Then, the material body forces via plasticity are expressed as:
If thermal strains exist in the structure, the nodal material body force vectors are:
For hyperelastic material, the material force is:
The Eshelby stress ( ) is defined as:
where is the hyperelastic potential.
For a 3-D problem, integral representation of the nodal material forces becomes a volume integration,
which again is evaluated over a group of elements. The principal is similar to the 2-D problem. After
nodal material forces are evaluated, however, they are divided by a distance quantity through the
thickness.
2.4.1.1. Virtual Crack-Extension Nodes and Material Force Contours

Virtual crack-extension nodes are critical input data elements required for material force evaluation.
The program uses virtual crack-extension node input to evaluate tangential (crack-driven force) and
non-tangential components to the crack surface of the material force vectors. The crack-extension nodes
are typically grouped together as crack-tip node components.
For a 2-D crack problem, the crack-tip node component typically contains one node, which is also the
crack-tip node. The first contour for the area integration of the material force is evaluated over the
elements associated with the crack-tip node component. The first contour gives nodal material force.
The second contour for the area integration of the material force approach is evaluated over the elements
adjacent to the first contour of elements. The procedure is repeated for all contours. To ensure correct
results, the elements for the contour integration should not reach the outer boundary of the model
(with the exception of the crack surface).
For a 3-D crack problem, the crack-tip node component consists of the nodes along the crack front. It
is not necessary for the crack-tip node component to be sorted. The 3-D material force contour uses a
procedure similar to that of the 2-D contour.
2.4.1.2. Material Behavior

Material force evaluation supports the following material behaviors:
• Isotropic hardening plasticity
• Kinematic hardening plasticity
• Isotropic hyperelasticity
2.4.2. Calculating Material Force

The program calculates the material forces during the solution phase of the analysis after a substep
has converged, then stores the values to the results file.
The CINT command initiates the material force calculation and specifies the necessary parameters. See
Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13).
Example 2.4: Using the CINT Command for Material Force Calculation
! Material force calculation using crack-tip node component, crack-plane normal,
! and symmetry conditions
!
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,MFOR
CINT, NORM, 2
CINT,SYMM,ON
CINT,NCON,5
OUTRES,CINT,10 ! output material forces every 10 substeps
2.5. C*-integral Calculation

C*-integral is used to evaluate the crack tip fields in a homogenous material undergoing a secondary
(steady-state) creeping deformation. C* is obtained by replacing the displacements with velocities, and
the strain energy density with the strain energy rate density in the J-integral (p. 25) expansion.
To obtain path-independent C*-integral values, the creep deformation must be fully developed (that
is, the creep strains should dominate the elastic strains in a region near the crack tip).
The following topics about C*-integral calculation are available:

2.5.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Method
2.5.3. Performing the C*-integral Calculation
Also see C*-integral Evaluation for 3-D Surface Flaws in the Technology Demonstration Guide.
2.5.1. Understanding the Domain Integral Method

For a 2-D problem, and in the absence of thermal strain, body forces within the integration of area, and
pressure on the crack surface, the domain integral representation of the C*-integral is given in C*-integ-
ral (p. 8). For more information about the domain integral method, see J-integral Calculation (p. 25).
C*-integral Calculation
The discretized form of the C*-integral is given by:
where is the number of elements to be integrated, is the weight function, and is the area
of the element represented by .
For higher-order elements (such as PLANE183 and SOLID186), the vector at midside nodes takes the
averaged values from the corresponding corner nodes.
If the thermal strains exist in the structure and the surface tractions act on crack faces, the C*-integral
is expressed as:
where is the thermal expansion coefficient, is the crack face traction, and is crack face upon
which the tractions act.
For a 3-D problem, domain integral representation of the C*-integral becomes a volume integration,
which again is evaluated over a group of elements. The implementation becomes more complicated;
however, the principal is similar to that of the 2-D problem.

C*-integral evaluation supports secondary (steady-state) creep material behavior. For more information,
see Creep in the Material Reference.
2.5.3. Performing the C*-integral Calculation

Mechanical APDL calculates the C*-integral at the solution phase of the analysis after a substep has
converged, then stores the value in the results file.
To start a C*-integral calculation, use the CINT command's NEW option and provide a numerical identi-
fier for the input information for the calculation, as follows:
CINT,NEW,n
CINT,TYPE,CSTAR
where n is the number identifying this C*-integral calculation.
Example 2.5: Initiating a C*-integral Calculation

CINT,NEW,1 ! initiate a new C*-integral calculation
! as # 1
CINT,TYPE,CSTAR ! set its type as CSTAR
All CINT command options available for J-integral calculation (p. 25) are available for C*-integral calcu-
lation.
Example 2.6: C*-integral Evaluation
Following is a C*-integral evaluation for a crack in a homogenous material with symmetry conditions
imposed:
! local coordinate systems
local,11,0,,,,
! …
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,CSTAR
CINT,CENC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_SET,,11,2
CINT,SYMM,ON ! crack 1 is a symmetrical crack
CINT,NCON,5
OUTRES,CINT,10 ! output C*-integral every 10 substeps
2.6. VCCT Energy-Release Rate Calculation

The approach for evaluating the energy-release rate is based on the virtual crack-closure technique
(VCCT). The energy-release rate calculation occurs during the solution phase of the analysis and the
results are saved for postprocessing.
The following topics about energy-release rate calculation are available:

2.6.1. Using VCCT for Energy-Release Rate Calculation
2.6.2. Performing the Energy-Release Rate Calculation
2.6.1. Using VCCT for Energy-Release Rate Calculation

VCCT is based on the assumption that the energy needed to separate a surface is the same as the energy
needed to close the same surface. The implementation described here uses the modified crack-closure
method (a VCCT-based method) and assumes further that stress states around the crack tip do not
change significantly when the crack grows by a small amount (Δa).
2.6.1.1. 2-D Crack Geometry

For 2-D crack geometry with a low-order element mesh, the energy-release rate is defined as:
where:
GI and GII = Mode I and II energy-release rate, respectively

Δu and Δv = relative displacement between the top and bottom nodes of the crack face in
local coordinates x and y, respectively
Rx and Ry = reaction forces at the crack-tip node
Δa = crack extension, as shown in the following figure:
VCCT Energy-Release Rate Calculation
Figure 2.2: 2-D Crack Geometry Schematic
2.6.1.2. 3-D Crack Geometry

For 3-D crack geometry with a low-order element mesh, the energy-release rate is defined as:
where:
GI, GII, and GIII = Mode I, II, and III energy-release rate, respectively
Δu, Δv, and Δw= relative displacement between the top and bottom nodes of the crack face
in local coordinates x, y, and z, respectively
Rx, Ry, and Rz = reaction forces at the crack-tip node
ΔA = crack-extension area, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 2.3: 3-D Crack Geometry Schematic
2.6.1.3. Mesh and Material Behavior

In most cases, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using linear elements including PLANE182 and SOLID185.
The accuracy of the VCCT calculation depends on the meshes. To ensure the greatest accuracy, use
equal element sizes ahead of and behind the crack-tip node. The mesh size affects the solution; therefore,
it is helpful to examine mesh-size convergence prior to attempting the finite element solution.
When calculating energy release rates (CINT,TYPE,VCCT), the mesh in the vicinity of the crack must
contain only hex- (3-D) or quad- (2-D) shaped elements. The VCCT option does not support degenerative
element shapes.
The VCCT method for energy-release rate calculation supports the following material behaviors:
• Orthotropic elasticity
• Anisotropic elasticity
2.6.2. Performing the Energy-Release Rate Calculation

The CINT command's VCCT option initiates the energy-release rate calculation and specifies the necessary
parameters.
Following is the general process for calculating the energy-release rate:

2.6.2.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Energy-Release Rate Calculation
2.6.2.2. Step 2: Define Crack Information
2.6.2.3. Step 3: Define a Crack Symmetry Condition
2.6.2.4. Step 4: Specify Output Controls
2.6.2.1. Step 1: Initiate a New Energy-Release Rate Calculation

Issue the CINT command twice, as shown:
CINT,NEW,n
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
where n is the identifier for this energy-release rate calculation (for example, 1).
2.6.2.2. Step 2: Define Crack Information

Similar to the J-integral calculation (p. 27), the crack-tip node component and the crack-extension dir-
ection are both necessary for the energy-release rate calculation.
VCCT requires the finite element mesh to be in the crack-extension direction. To ensure the accuracy
of the energy-release rate calculation, it is crucial that you correctly define the crack extension. How
you do so depends upon whether the crack plane is flat or not:
2.6.2.2.1. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Flat
2.6.2.2.2. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Not Flat
2.6.2.2.1. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Flat

This approach applies to both 2-D crack geometry and 3-D flat crack surfaces. It offers a simple way to
define a 3-D energy-release rate calculation, as you need only define the crack-tip (front) node component
and the normal of the crack plane.
2-D Flat Crack Geometry
For 2-D crack geometry, define a crack-tip node component (usually a node located at the crack tip).
You can also define a group of nodes around the crack tip, including the node at the crack tip. The
program uses this group of nodes to form the necessary information for the VCCT calculation
automatically.
3-D Flat Crack Geometry
For 3-D flat crack surfaces, define a crack-tip node component that includes all of the nodes along
the crack front. At each node location, however, only one node can exist.
All nodes in the crack-tip node component must be connectable, and they must form a line based
on the element connectivity associated with it. This line is the crack front. The program uses it to
determine the elements and the nodes needed for the VCCT calculation automatically.
VCCT is not applicable in the case of a collapsed crack-tip mesh.
CINT,CTNC,Par1,Par2,Par3
where CTNC specifies a crack-tip node component, Par1 is the crack-tip node component name, Par2
is the crack-extension direction calculation-assist node (any node on the open side of the crack), and
Par3 is the crack front’s end-node crack-extension direction override.
The Par1 and Par2 values help to identify the crack-extension direction. Although the program
automatically calculates the energy-release rate at the crack tip using the local coordinate system, it is
usually best to use Par2 to define a crack face node to help align the extension directions of the crack-
tip nodes.
By default, the program uses the external surface to determine the crack-extension direction and normal
when the crack-tip node hits the free surface. You can use Par3 to override this default.
After the crack-tip node component is defined, define the normal of the crack plane. The program
automatically converts it into the crack-extension vector q, based on the element information. The
crack-extension vector is taken along the perpendicular direction to the plane formed by the crack-
plane normal and the tangent direction of the crack-tip node, and is normalized to a unit vector.
CINT,NORM,Par1, Par2
where Par1 is the coordinate system number and Par2 is the coordinate system axis.
Example 2.7: Specifying Crack Information

! Local coordinate system
LOCAL,11,0,,,,
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip
! Define a new the energy-release rate calculation

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
CINT,NORM,11,2
Example 2.8: Specifying Crack Information

! Select nodes located along the crack front and
LSEL,,,,
NSLL
CM,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CM,NODE
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
CINT,CTNC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CM
2.6.2.2.2. Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Not Flat
This approach applies to 3-D curved crack planes, where a unique normal may not exist. However, you
must define the crack-extension node component and the crack-extension direction at each crack-tip
node location:
1. Define a node component consisting of one or more nodes forming the crack tip.
The node component can have one or more nodes.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName
2. If the node component has more than one node, identify the crack-tip node separately.
If a crack-tip node is not identified, the first node of the node component is used as the first node.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1
3. Define the crack-extension direction.
Identify the local coordinate system associated with the crack under consideration, and identify the
local axis along which the crack should extend.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1,11,2
Alternatively, define the crack-extension direction by directly specifying the global X, Y, and Z
components of the crack-extension vector.
Example: CINT,CENC,ComponentName,Node1,,,compx,compy,compz
Repeat this method for all node locations along the crack front. Although the program automatically
calculates the local coordinate system at the crack tip to determine the energy-release rate, it is usually
best to use the NORM option to help align the calculated normals of the crack-tip nodes.
Example 2.9: Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Not Flat
! Local coordinate systems
local,11,0,,,,
local,12,0,,,,
! …
local,n,0,,,,
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip1
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip2
! …
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctipn
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
! …
CINT,CENC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CMn,,n,2
Example 2.10: Specifying Crack Information When the Crack Plane Is Not Flat
! crack-extension direction specification using vectors
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip1
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip1
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctip2
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctip2
! …
NSEL,S,LOC,X,Xctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Y,Yctipn
NSEL,R,LOC,Z,Zctipn
CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
! …
CINT,CENC,CRACK_FRONT_NODE_CMn,,,,Vxn,Vyn,Vzn
Local Crack-Tip Coordinate System
The VCCT calculation is based on the local crack-tip coordinate systems. To ensure the accuracy of the
energy-release rate calculation, it is crucial to have a local crack-tip coordinate system in which the
local x axis is pointed to the crack extension, the local y axis is pointed to the normal of the crack surfaces
or edges, and the local z-axis pointed to the tangential direction of the crack front.
Local coordinate systems must be consistent across all nodes along the crack front. A set of inconsistent
coordinate systems results in irregular behavior of the energy-release rate distribution along crack front.
The program automatically calculates the local coordinate systems based on the input crack front nodes
and the normal of the crack surface or extension directions. Because there may be not enough inform-
ation to determine a set of consistent coordinate systems, however, ANSYS, Inc. recommends:
• Using the CINT command's CTNC option to define a crack-face node to help identify the coordinate systems,
or
• Using the CINT command's NORM option, followed by the CENC option, to define the coordinate systems.
2.6.2.3. Step 3: Define a Crack Symmetry Condition

If the crack is located along a symmetry plane, and only a half model is created, define a symmetric
condition so that the program can account for it. To do so, issue the following command:
CINT,SYMM,ON
Example 2.11: Defining a Crack Symmetry Condition

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
CINT,SYMM,ON ! crack 1 is a symmetrical crack
2.6.2.4. Step 4: Specify Output Controls

Similar to the J-integral calculation (p. 25), the program calculates the energy-release rate during the
solution phase of the analysis and stores the results in the .rst file for postprocessing.
Energy-release rate output uses all of the defaults from the OUTRES command. The OUTRES,ALL
command includes CINT command results. However, you can issue an OUTRES,CINT command to
control the specific output for energy-release rate results only.
Example 2.12: Specifying Output Controls

CINT,NEW,1
CINT,TYPE,VCCT
CINT,CTNCP,CRACK_TIP_NODE_CM
CINT,SYMM,ON
OUTRES,CINT,10 ! output CINT results every 10 substeps
Unstructured Mesh Method (UMM)
2.7. Unstructured Mesh Method (UMM)

The numerical evaluation of fracture mechanics parameters in three-dimensional cases depends to a
great extent on the finite element meshes used in your analysis.
While structured hexahedral meshes are commonly used to accurately evaluate fracture mechanics
parameters, some analyses may require unstructured hexahedral meshes or tetrahedral meshes. In such
cases, the conventional method used for parameter evaluation results in either approximate values or
values that tend to oscillate around some mean value.
The unstructured mesh method (UMM) is a numerical tool for evaluating fracture mechanics parameters
more accurately in cases where unstructured hexahedral meshes and tetrahedral meshes are used. The
accuracy of the resulting parameters is generally comparable to that of parameters evaluated using
structured hexahedral meshes.
The following additional UMM topics are available:

2.7.1. Fracture Mechanics Parameters Supported by UMM
2.7.2. UMM Default Settings
2.7.3. UMM Assumptions and Restrictions
2.7.1. Fracture Mechanics Parameters Supported by UMM

The unstructured mesh method supports the following fracture mechanics parameter calculations:
• Stress-intensity factors (p. 27)
When evaluating these parameters, you can change the default UMM setting (via the CINT command).
If disabled, the calculation result is the same as that of the conventional calculation method.
2.7.2. UMM Default Settings

The unstructured mesh method is controlled via the CINT,UMM,ON/OFF command. UMM is enabled
(ON) or disabled (OFF) by default according to the element type, as follows:
Element Description Default UMM Setting

Type
SOLID185 3-D 8-Node Structural
[1] Solid
OFF
SOLID186 3-D 20-Node Structural
[1] Solid
SOLID187 3-D 10-Node
Tetrahedral Structural
Solid
ON
SOLID285 3-D 4-Node Tetrahedral
Structural Solid with
Nodal Pressures
1. For meshes with SOLID185 or SOLID186, if degenerated elements (tetrahedral or pyramid shapes) exist in
the region around the crack front where the contour integration is performed, UMM is enabled
(CINT,UMM,ON) by default.
If issued, the CINT command overrides the default UMM setting.
2.7.3. UMM Assumptions and Restrictions

The following assumptions and restrictions apply to UMM:
• The portion of crack face inside the region near the crack front where contour integration is performed is
assumed to be flat. ANSYS, Inc. recommends disabling UMM (CINT,UMM,OFF) for crack surfaces with signi-
ficant curvature. Also, the results of fracture-parameter calculations near the ends of the crack front may be
affected when curved boundary surfaces exist in that region; therefore, carefully evaluate the numerical
results before use.
• The two crack faces should be coincident (having no gap between them).
• For nonlinear elastic-plastic materials, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using a finer mesh in the region near the
crack fronts.
Chapter 3: Crack-Growth Simulation, Interface Delamination, and
Fatigue Crack Growth
Crack-growth simulation in homogenous and composite structures is of interest because of the need
for structural integrity assessments. Preexisting cracks may propagate when certain loading conditions
are reached or when certain localized conditions are met. Cracks may also propagate along the interface
between the layers of a composite structure (interfacial delamination). In case where structures are
subject to cyclic loading, it is of interest to know the interaction between crack extension rate and the
number of load cycles.
Crack growth is the separation process of crack surfaces and implies that the crack geometry changes.
The most direct method for crack-growth simulation uses a remeshing technique to accommodate the
changes in the fracture process. ANSYS, Inc. Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Technology
(SMART) (p. 49) offers remeshing-based tools for automated crack-growth simulation in engineering
structural components. A key component of the technology is crack representation during crack growth.
SMART uses a combination of automated morphing, adaptive and remeshing techniques to accommodate
the crack changes. SMART can model both static and fatigue crack growth.
Mechanical APDL offers other fracture mechanics methods to specifically simulate crack growth along
a predefined path or along an arbitrary path:
• For crack growth along the interfaces, the VCCT-based crack-growth simulation (p. 66) has become a
widely used technique for simulation of interface delamination of laminate composite. The technique
is also well suited for modeling the fracture process in a homogeneous medium, as fracture can be
considered a separation process between two surfaces.
• You can also use the cohesive zone model to simulate interface delamination and other fracture phe-
nomena. This approach introduces failure mechanisms by using the hardening-softening relationships
between the separations and incorporating the corresponding tractions across the interface. Similarly,
this technique is also well suited for modeling the fracture process in a homogeneous medium. An in-
terface delamination and failure simulation is performed by first separating the model into two com-
ponents or groups of elements, then defining a cohesive zone between the two groups. You can
model interface delamination with either interface elements (p. 83) or contact elements (debond-
ing) (p. 89).
The XFEM-based crack-growth simulation (p. 93) technique simulates crack growth along an arbitrary
path in linear elastic homogeneous materials. The technique provides a good engineering approach to
crack-growth simulation and avoids remeshing of crack-tip regions.
Engineering structures often operate under cyclic loads, where the loads remain below critical limits.
Existing cracks in such structures can propagate, causing extensive damage. The XFEM-based crack-
growth simulation technique also provides a convenient approach to modeling fatigue crack-
growth (p. 126) problems.
The following topics for crack-growth simulation, interface delamination, and fatigue crack growth are
available:
3.1. Understanding Crack-Growth Mechanics
Crack-Growth Simulation, Interface Delamination, and Fatigue Crack Growth
3.2. SMART Method for Crack-Growth Simulation

3.3. VCCT-Based Crack-Growth Simulation
3.4. Modeling Interface Delamination with Interface Elements
3.5. Modeling Interface Delamination with Contact Elements (Debonding)
3.6. XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation
3.7. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth
3.1. Understanding Crack-Growth Mechanics

Crack growth is the separation process of two crack surfaces. The most general approach is the energy-
release-rate method. Driving the crack growth requires an increase in the surface energy to separate
the two crack surfaces. When the surface energy reaches the critical value, the crack surfaces separate
and the crack grows.
A simple criterion based on the energy-release rate can be expressed as:
where is the so-called critical fracture energy required to separate the two crack surfaces. It is con-
sidered to be a material property, independent of the applied loads and the geometry of the body, and
is often referred to as the fracture toughness.
3.1.1. Static Crack-Growth Mechanics

Crack-growth modeling is essentially based on the fracture parameters and criteria used. Many criteria
exist in the literature. Mechanical APDL offers two common fracture criteria for static crack-growth
simulation:
• Stress-intensity factors (SIFS) (p. 27)
Use Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Technology (SMART) (p. 49) to model static crack
growth.
3.1.1.1. K-Based Crack-Growth Criterion

Within the context of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), a crack grows when the crack-tip stress
exceeds a certain critical value.
The stress-intensity factor (p. 27) determines the amplitude of the crack-tip stress for a given geometry
and loading case. We can therefore assume that a crack will grow when reaches the critical value.
This assumption implies that a crack-growth criterion can be formulated where the stress-intensity
factor for a given case is compared to this critical value.
The value of the stress-intensity factor is calculated using the interaction integral method (p. 27)
(CINT,TYPE,SIFS). The critical value must be known from experimental measurements and is usually
denoted as . It is considered to be material property and is referred to as the fracture toughness.
For Mode I crack growth, the fracture toughness is expressed as:
Understanding Crack-Growth Mechanics
3.1.1.2. J-integral Crack-Growth Criterion

In LEFM, the J-integral (p. 25) is equivalent to the energy-release rate and is therefore also related to
the stress-intensity factor. In nonlinear fracture mechanics (NLFM), where the material behavior is de-
scribed via the general Ramberg-Osgood relation, the J-integral characterizes the stress at the crack tip.
It can therefore be used as a crack-growth criterion similar to the stress-intensity factor.
The J-integral value is calculated using the domain integration method (p. 25) (CINT,TYPE,JINT). Critical
values must be measured according to standard experiments.
The fracture criterion is expressed as:
3.1.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Mechanics

When structural components are subject to cyclic loading, a crack can grow well before the critical
characteristics of the materials such as the yield stress and the critical stress-intensity factor are
reached. A typical fatigue crack-growth law formulates the crack-extension increment as function of
stress-intensity factor and stress ratio:
where is the crack extension, is the fatigue cycle count, is the crack-growth rate per loading
cycle due to fatigue, is the stress-intensity factor, and is the stress ratio.
The following figure is a typical log-log plot showing three distinct regions for the fatigue crack-growth
process observed from experimental testing:
Figure 3.1: Log-Log Plot of Fatigue Crack-Growth Test
Region I shows the crack starting to grow after the threshold is reached, but with very limited crack
growth. Region II shows the crack growing linearly with the stress-intensity factor. Region III shows
general unstable crack growth.
3.1.2.1. Paris' Law

A common fatigue crack-growth model is Paris' Law [1], which relates the stress-intensity factor range
to the crack-growth rate under a fatigue-stress regimen:
where, and are the Paris' Law constants dependent on the material characteristics and stress ratio,
and is the stress-intensity-factor range during the fatigue cycle.
The stress ratio is defined as:
where and represent the stress-intensity factors at the minimum and maximum loads, re-
spectively.
The stress-intensity-factor range can therefore be rewritten as:
For mixed-mode fatigue crack growth, an equivalent stress-intensity-factor range is used instead:
SMART Method for Crack-Growth Simulation
where:
, the direction of propagation
The following command defines Paris' Law model data:
TB,CGCR,MaterialID,,,PARIS
TBDATA,1,C,m
3.1.2.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Calculation

A typical fatigue crack-growth calculation requires:
• Calculating and at the maximum load.
• Defining the incremental number of cycles to calculate of the crack increment ,
or
Defining the crack increment to calculate the incremental number of cycles .
• Repeating the same calculation with the new crack extension.
• Stopping the analysis when the specified maximum crack extension is reached.
The calculation of (and ) is performed numerically during the analysis at each substep.
The determination of or depends on the fatigue crack-growth method used.
Fatigue crack growth can be modeled using either of these methods:
• Life-cycle (LC)– Uses crack-extension increment to calculate the load-cycle increment .
• Cycle-by-cycle (CBC) – Uses the load-cycle increment to calculate crack-extension increment .
Mechanical APDL offers two methods for simulating fatigue crack growth:
• SMART (p. 49)
• XFEM-based (p. 126)
3.2. SMART Method for Crack-Growth Simulation

Use Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Technology (SMART) to simulate both static and
fatigue crack growth in engineering structures. SMART updates the mesh from crack-geometry changes
due to crack growth automatically at each solution step. Mesh updates occur around the crack-front
region only and are integrated into the Mechanical APDL solver without exiting and reentering the
solver, resulting in a computationally efficient solution of the crack-growth problem. Crack-growth
mechanics include various fracture criteria for static crack growth and Paris' Law (p. 48) for fatigue crack
growth.
Following are the primary characteristics of the SMART crack-growth method:
• 3-D Mode I crack growth only.
• Linear elastic isotropic materials only.
• Uses SOLID187 only.
• Ignores large-deflection and finite-rotation effects, crack-tip plasticity effects, and crack-tip closure or
compression effects.
• Fracture criteria for static crack growth includes critical stress-intensity factor (p. 46) and J-integral (p. 47).
• Fatigue crack growth is based on Paris' Law (p. 48) [1].
The following topics for the SMART crack-growth method are available:
3.2.1. Understanding a SMART Crack-Growth Simulation
3.2.2. Performing the SMART Crack-Growth Calculation
3.2.3. SMART Crack-Growth Assumptions and Limitations
3.2.4. Postprocessing SMART Crack-Growth Analysis Results
3.2.5. Example: Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Using SMART
3.2.1. Understanding a SMART Crack-Growth Simulation

A SMART crack-growth simulation is assumed to be quasi-static. You can use the SMART crack-growth
method to perform a static or fatigue crack-growth simulation.
Crack-growth simulation is a nonlinear structural analysis. The analysis details presented here emphasize
features specific to crack growth:
3.2.1.1. Creating a Finite Element Model with an Initial Crack
3.2.1.2. Defining the Fracture-Parameter Calculation Set
3.2.1.3. Defining the Fracture Criterion
3.2.1.4. Setting Crack-Growth Solution Controls
3.2.1.5. Specifying the Crack-Extension Increments in a Step
For more information, see Example: Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Using SMART (p. 58).
3.2.1.1. Creating a Finite Element Model with an Initial Crack

Standard nonlinear finite element solution procedures apply for creating a crack model with proper
solution-control settings, loadings and boundary conditions.
SMART uses higher-order tetrahedral element SOLID187, and the finite element model must be meshed
with that element.
To create a finite element model with an initial crack, you can use ANSYS Workbench, ANSYS Mechan-
ical, Mechanical APDL, or any third-party meshing tools that work with Mechanical APDL.
Fracture mechanics deals with cracks (defects), and a singularity always exists around the crack tip/front.
The crack-tip/-front mesh is therefore of utmost importance in a crack analysis, as stress-analysis and
fracture-parameters calculation accuracy depend on the crack mesh. Size and shape differences in the
elements ahead of and behind the crack tip/front affect the accuracy of the fracture-parameters calcu-
lation, and therefore the crack-growth simulation.
For more information, see Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved (p. 9) and
Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13).
3.2.1.2. Defining the Fracture-Parameter Calculation Set

The SMART crack-growth method uses either J-integral (p. 2) or stress-intensity factors (SIFS) (p. 4)
as the fracture parameter (driving force) and the criteria for crack-growth calculation.
For each crack, only one fracture parameter can be specified. The parameter must be consistent with
the specified crack-growth criterion (CGROW,FCOPTION).
The CINT command initiates the fracture-parameter calculation and specifies options for the calculation.
1. Define the crack-calculation set:
CINT,NEW,SETNUMBER
where SETNUMBER is an integer value indicating the fracture-parameter set ID, used to identify the
fracture parameter for the crack-growth criterion.
2. Calculate the fracture parameter:
CINT,TYPE,FractureParameter
where FractureParameter is JINT (J-integral) or SIFS (stress-intensity factors).
3. Specify crack-front node component (CTNC) or crack-extension node component (CENC):
CINT,CTNC,Par1
where Par1 is the crack-tip node-component name,
or
CINT,CENC,Par1,Par2,Par3
where Par1 is the crack-extension node-component name, Par2 is crack-exten-

sion direction calculation-assist node (any node on the open side of the crack),
and Par3 is crack front’s end-node crack-extension direction-override flag.
If specifying CINT,CTNC, also define the crack-plane normal (CINT,NORM).
4. Specify the number of contours (p. 12) for fracture-parameter calculation:
CINT,NCON,NUM_CONTOURS
3.2.1.3. Defining the Fracture Criterion

SMART supports static and fatigue crack-growth analyses:
3.2.1.3.1. Static Crack-Growth Criterion
3.2.1.3.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Criterion
For each crack, only one fracture criterion can be specified. The criterion parameter must be consistent
with the defined fracture-parameter calculation (CINT).
When specifying J-integral (p. 25) as a fracture parameter, the crack is assumed to always grow along
the initial direction. It is therefore suited for Mode I crack growth only.
3.2.1.3.1. Static Crack-Growth Criterion

For static crack-growth simulation, SMART supports the J-integral (p. 25) and stress-intensity factors
(SIFs) (p. 27) fracture criteria. Specify a fracture criterion and provide the corresponding fracture-criterion
value:
CGROW,FCOPTION,Par1,Par2
where Par1 is the fracture criterion (KEFF or JIC), and Par2 is the critical value of
the fracture parameter.
3.2.1.3.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Criterion

For fatigue crack-growth simulation, crack growth is based on Paris' Law (p. 48), where input requires
a material data table defining Paris' Law and the constants:
TB,CGCR,MAT_ID,,,Option
CGROW,FCOPTION,MATB,MAT_ID,CONTOUR
where MAT_ID is the material ID for the material data table and CONTOUR is the
fracture-parameter contour to use for fracture evaluation.
When specifying J-integral (p. 25) as a fracture parameter, the calculated J-Integral is converted to a
stress-intensity factor (using a plane-strain assumption) for the Paris' law calculation.
3.2.1.4. Setting Crack-Growth Solution Controls

Specify crack-growth solution controls (CGROW):
To specify this solution Issue this CGROW command:

control...
Fracture criterion ratio (p. 72) CGROW,FCRAT,VALUE,
(fc) where VALUE is the ratio
Initial time step when crack CGROW,DTIME,VALUE,
growth initiates where VALUE is initial time step
To avoid over-predicting the

load-carrying capacity, specify a small
initial time step.
Minimum time step for CGROW,DTMIN,VALUE,
subsequent crack growth where VALUE is the minimum time step
size
Maximum time step for CGROW,DTMAX,VALUE,
subsequent crack growth where VALUE is the maximum time step
size

control...
Maximum crack extension CGROW,STOP,CEMX,VALUE,
allowed at any crack-front nodes where VALUE is the maximum crack
extension
Because crack-growth simulation can

be time-consuming, use this command
to stop the analysis when the specified
crack extension of interest has been
reached.
When a crack extends rapidly (for example, in cases of unstable crack growth), use smaller DTMAX and
DTMIN values to allow time for load rebalancing. When a crack is not growing, the specified time-
stepping controls are ignored and the solution adheres to standard time-stepping control.
The STOP criterion (CEMX) is based on the total accumulated maximum crack increment in a
step:
3.2.1.5. Specifying the Crack-Extension Increments in a Step

Fracture mechanics deals with cracks (defects), and a singularity always exists around the crack tip or
crack front. The finite element solution will therefore always depend on the element sizes, especially
around the crack tip. To ensure consistent results throughout the crack-growth process, maintain a
consistent crack-tip/-front element size and crack-extension increment.
The crack-growth calculation occurs in the solution phase after stress calculation. The fracture parameter
is calculated first, followed by the crack extension according to the crack-growth method:
• If using the fatigue-crack-growth (p. 56) Life-cycle (LC) (p. 130) method:
CGROW,FCG,METH,LC
The crack-extension increment is calculated using the maximum element size of the crack-
front node:
where is the size of the elements along the crack front.
If < DAMN, the crack-extension increment is set to the specified minimum crack-extension
increment DAMN:
= DAMN
If > DAMX, the crack-extension increment is set to the specified maximum crack-extension
increment DAMX:
= DAMX
The cycle increment is calculated using the calculated crack extension and the maximum
stress-intensity factor of the crack-front node:
The crack-extension increment of the nodes is determined by:
where is the calculated nodal crack-extension increment, is the stress-intensity factor

of the crack-front node, and is the stress ratio.
• If using the fatigue-crack-growth Cycle-by-cycle (CBC) (p. 130) method:
CGROW,FCG,METH,CBC
The crack-extension increment is calculated by the cycle increment with the maximum
stress-intensity factor of the crack-front node:
If < DAMN, the crack-extension increment is set to the specified minimum crack-extension
increment DAMN, and the new cycle increment is calculated:
If > DAMX, the crack-extension increment is set to the specified maximum crack-extension
increment DAMX, and the new cycle increment is calculated:
The crack-extension increment of the remaining nodes is determined by:
where is the calculated nodal crack-extension increment, is the stress-intensity factor

of the crack-front node, and is the stress ratio.
• If using static crack growth (p. 55):
The maximum stress-intensity factor of the crack-front node is calculated. If it is greater than the
specified criterion, the crack is set to grow. The crack extension of each crack-front node is then
calculated based on the averaged crack-front element size:
where is the averaged size of the elements along the crack front, is the stress-intensity
factor along the crack front, and is the averaged stress-intensity factor.
To specify the maximum crack-extension increment:
CGROW,FCG,DAMX,INCREMENT
Default: INCREMENT = 1.5 x average element size along the crack front. (If a larger
INCREMENT value is specified, the program uses the default value.)
To specify the minimum crack-extension increment:
CGROW,FCG,DAMN,INCREMENT
Default: INCREMENT = 0.25 x average element size along the crack front. (If a
smaller INCREMENT value is specified, the program uses the default value.)
When the fracture criterion (p. 51) is reached for the specified crack-growth type, SMART determines
the crack-growth sizes (new crack faces) and generates meshes for the new crack surfaces. Nodes inside
the new crack faces are released to form the new crack.
For fatigue crack growth, the minimum crack-extension increment, maximum crack-extension increment,
and number-of-cycles increment may not be sufficiently satisfied during the solution phase to ensure
a robust meshing change.
3.2.2. Performing the SMART Crack-Growth Calculation

SMART supports static or fatigue crack-growth analyses:
3.2.2.1. Static Crack-Growth Calculation
The CGROW command defines all necessary crack-growth-calculation parameters.
3.2.2.1. Static Crack-Growth Calculation

1. Define a set number for this crack-growth calculation:
CGROW,NEW,SETNUMBER
2. Specify the crack-calculation ID (created when you defined the fracture-parameter calculation set (p. 51))
to use as the fracture criterion:
CGROW,CID,ID
3. Set the crack-growth method to SMART:
CGROW,METHOD,SMART,REME
4. Specify the fracture criterion (p. 52):
CGROW,FCOPTION,Par1,Par2 when the fracture parameter is only a constant,
or, when fracture parameters are more than just a constant,
5. Set the crack-growth time-stepping controls (p. 52):
CGROW,DTMAX,MAX_TIME_STEP
CGROW,DTMIN,MIN_TIME_STEP
6. Stop the crack analysis as needed:
CGROW,STOP,CEMX,MAX_CRACK_EXT
The command stops the analysis when the crack extension for any crack-front node reaches the
maximum value specified.
Large Time Steps and Fracture Parameters A crack-growth condition is based on whether the
fracture criterion is met along the crack-front nodes; therefore, a large time step may result in significant
overprediction of the fracture parameters (and therefore the load-carrying capacity of the structures).
A large time step can also cause overprediction in the solution when crack growth becomes unstable.
In both cases, try using a small minimum time DTMIN.

1. Define a set number (p. 51) for this crack-growth calculation:
CGROW,NEW,SETNUMBER
2. Specify the crack-calculation ID (created when you defined the fracture-parameter calculation set (p. 51))
to use as the fracture criterion:
CGROW,CID,ID
3. Set the crack-growth method to SMART:
CGROW,METHOD,SMART,REME
4. Specify either the life-cycle (LC) (p. 130) or cycle-by-cycle (CBC) (p. 130) method for the fatigue crack-growth
calculation:
CGROW,FCG,METH,LC or CBC
If using the CBC method, also specify the cycle increment (p. 53) to
use in a calculation step:
CGROW,FCG,DELN,INCREMENT
5. Specify the fatigue crack-growth (p. 52) model and parameters:
6. Specify the stress ratio (p. 48):
CGROW,FCG,SRAT,VALUE
7. Specify maximum and minimum crack increment (p. 49) in a step:
CGROW,DAMX,MAX_INCREMENT
CGROW,DAMN,MIN_INCREMENT
8. Stop the crack analysis as needed:
CGROW,STOP,CEMX,MAX_CRACK_EXT
The command stops the analysis when the crack extension for any crack-front node reaches the
maximum value specified.
Also see Example: Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Using SMART (p. 58).
3.2.3. SMART Crack-Growth Assumptions and Limitations

• SMART supports 3-D crack growth only.
• SMART is used with SOLID187 only.
• SMART supports Mode I crack growth only.
• Only one crack can be defined.
• Material behavior is assumed to be linear elastic isotropic, with only one material in the crack-growth
domain.
• Plasticity effects, nonlinear geometry effects, load-compression effects, and crack-tip-closure effects
are not considered.
• Restarting the analysis (ANTYPE,,RESTART) is currently not supported.
• When the crack grows to the point of breaking the structural component apart, all solution results are
set to zero and no crack-front information is reported.
• Multiple load steps are not supported.
• MPC contact is the only supported contact option.
3.2.4. Postprocessing SMART Crack-Growth Analysis Results

Use the following standard POST1 (/POST1) commands for postprocessing SMART crack-growth analysis
results:
Command Purpose
ANDATA Displays animated graphics data for nonlinear problems
ANTIME Generates a sequential contour animation over a range of time
Command Purpose
*GET Retrieves a value and stores it as a scalar parameter or part of an
array parameter
PLDISP Displays the displaced structure
PLESOL Displays the solution results as discontinuous element contours
PLNSOL Displays results as continuous contours
PLVECT Displays results as vectors
PRESOL Prints element solution results
PRNSOL Prints nodal solution results
PRVECT Prints results as vector magnitude and direction cosines
3.2.5. Example: Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Using SMART

The following figure represents the model to be used in a SMART-based fatigue crack-growth simulation:
Figure 3.2: Standard Compact-Tension Specimen
The fatigue calculation is based on Paris' Law (p. 48). The numbers of cycles are obtained for various
crack-growth increments and compared to the reference solution.
Following are the material properties, specimen dimensions, and loading:
Material Geometry Loading

Properties
E = 2e5 W = 100 mm P = 450 N
Mpa, µ
= 0.33 B = 12 mm Stress ratio: R = 0
Paris’
Law: C
=
2.29e-10,
m=2
The problem is solved using the 3-D SOLID187 element. Stress-intensity factors (SIFS) (p. 4) were
defined for the fracture parameter, and SMART was used for the crack-growth analysis with remeshing
only (CGROW,METHOD,SMART,REME). The life-cycle (LC) method (p. 130) was used for fatigue analysis
with a maximum crack-growth increment of 0.5 m. The number of cycles is obtained and compared to
the theoretical results.
A value Target Mechanical APDL Ratio

of the First Node:
0.3945 32.534 31.188 0.959
0.7949 32.892 31.708 0.964
1.2124 33.263 32.654 0.982
1.6558 33.658 33.995 1.010
2.1061 34.086 34.628 1.016
2.5686 34.530 35.503 1.028
of the First Node:
0.3945 1627507 1770957 1.088
0.7949 3243567 3510006 1.082
1.2124 4891584 5220097 1.067
1.6558 6600680 6895468 1.045
2.1061 8293223 8535421 1.029
2.5686 9987014 10137707 1.015
3.2.5.1. Input File Used in This Example

Following is the input file for the example fatigue crack-growth analysis using SMART (p. 58):
/prep7
A = 46.6 ! crack length

W = 100 ! width
W1 = 125 ! total width
H = 60 ! half height
R = 12.5 ! radius of load circle
E = 27.5 ! pin height
S = 3 ! half width of notch
D1 = 80 ! depth of notch
D2 = 75 ! depth of notch
B = -12 ! thickness
k,1,A
k,2,W
k,3,W,H
k,4,,H
k,5,(W-W1),H
K,6,(W-W1),S
k,7,,S
k,8,(W-D1),S
k,9,(W-D2)
k,10,,E
k,11,,E,E
!!!!!start!!!!!
k,20,W,-H
k,21,,-H
K,22,(W-W1),-H
k,23,(W-W1),-S
k,24,,-S
k,25,(W-D1),-S
k,26,(W-D2)
k,27,,-E
k,28,,-E,E
k,40,(W-D1),H
k,41,(W-D1),-H
!!!!!end!!!!!!
circle,10,r,11,4,,8
l,1,2
l,2,3
l,3,40
l,40,4
l,4,5
l,5,6
l,6,7
l,7,8
l,8,9
l,9,1
l,4,12
l,16,7
!!!!!!!!!!
circle,27,r,28,21,,8
l,20,41
l,41,21
l,21,22
l,22,23
l,23,24
l,24,25
l,25,26
l,26,1
l,2,20
l,24,33
l,29,21
l,8,40
l,25,41
AL,9,10,11,40,17,18
Al,41,35,36,9,37,29
AL,12,19,8,7,6,5,20,16,40
AL,34,38,24,23,22,21,39,30,41
AL,38,33,32,31,39,28,27,26,25
AL,13,19,1,2,3,4,20,15,14
!!!!!!!!!!
et,1,187
type,1
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,nuxy,1,0.33
! Paris' Law Constants

C=2.29E-10
M=2
! Fatigue crack growth Law Specification

tb, cgcr, 2, , , PARIS
tbdata, 1, C, M
esize,4
vext,all,,,0,0,B
allsel,all
vmesh,all
asel,s,,,8
asel,a,,,18
asel,a,,,13
AREFINE,all,,,,1
esel,s,ename,,187
allsel,all
ASEL,s, , , 23
ASEL,a, , , 24
ASEL,a, , , 25
ASEL,a, , , 26
ASEL,a, , , 50
ASEL,a, , , 51
ASEL,a, , , 52
ASEL,a, , , 53
nsla,s,1
*GET, numnode, NODE, 0, count, , ,
f,all,fy,450/numnode
allsel,all
!lsel,s,,,88
!lsel,a,,,92
ASEL,s, , , 33
ASEL,a, , , 34
ASEL,a, , , 35
ASEL,a, , , 36
ASEL,a, , , 39
ASEL,a, , , 40
ASEL,a, , , 41
ASEL,a, , , 42
nsla,s,1
*GET, numnode, NODE, 0, count, , ,
f,all,fy,-450/numnode
allsel,all
lsel,s,,,49
nsll,s,1
D,ALL,UY,0
D,ALL,UZ,0
allsel
lsel,s,,,74
lsel,a,,,90
nsll,s,1
D,ALL,UX,0
allsel
nsel,s,loc,x,a,a
nsel,r,loc,y,0
nlist
cm,crack1,node
ALLSEL,ALL
ASEL,S, , ,12,13
NSLA,S,1
CM,CRACKT_SUR_01,NODE!upper
ALLSEL
ASEL,S, , ,18,19
NSLA,S,1
CM,CRACKT_SUR_02,NODE!lower
ALLSEL
finish
/solu
ANTYPE,STATIC
KBC,1
ANTYPE,STATIC
cint,new,1
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
CINT,TYPE,JINT
cint,ctnc,crack1
CINT,EDIR,CS,0,x
cint,norm,0,2
CINT,SURF,CRACKT_SUR_01,CRACKT_SUR_02
cint,ncon,5
CGROW, NEW, 1
CGROW, CID, 1
CGROW, METHOD, SMART,REME
CGROW, FCG, METH, LC ! life-cycle method

CGROW, FCG, DAMX, 0.5 ! maximum crack growth increment
CGROW, FCG, SRAT, 0 ! stress-ratio
CGROW, fcoption, mtab, 2
NSUBST,6
OUTRES,all,ALL
/solu
solve
finish
/POST1
*get, nstep, active, 0, set, nset

crkId = 1
maxnumNd = 0
SET,FIRST
*do,istep,1,nstep
! get number of crack tips
*get, pval, CINT,1, NNOD
*if, pval,gt,maxnumNd,then
maxnumNd = pval
*endif
SET,NEXT
*enddo
*DIM, numNd,array,nstep,1
*DIM, nodeNum,array,maxnumNd,nstep
*DIM,DN,array,2,nstep
*DIM,DA,array,2,nstep
*DIM,DK,array,2,nstep
*DIM,DR,array,2,nstep
*DIM,ND_X,array,2,nstep
*DIM,ND_Y,array,2,nstep
*DIM,ND_Z,array,2,nstep
*DIM,ND_A,array,2,nstep
! DN_R and DK_R store the reference results
*DIM,DN_R,array,2,nstep
*DIM,DK_R,array,2,nstep
! OUT0 stores the results of the first node
! OUT1 stores the results of the last node
*DIM,OUT0_DN,array,nstep,2
*DIM,OUT0_DA,array,nstep,2
*DIM,OUT0_DK,array,nstep,2
*DIM,OUT1_DN,array,nstep,2
*DIM,OUT1_DA,array,nstep,2
*DIM,OUT1_DK,array,nstep,2
SET,FIRST
istep = 1
numNd(istep,1) = pval
! get tip node numbers
*do, inode, 1, 2
*if,inode,eq,1,then
*get, NdNum, CINT,crkId, NODE, inode
*else
*get, NdNum, CINT,crkId, NODE, numNd(istep,1)
*endif
nodeNum(inode,istep) = NdNum
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltn

DN(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dlta
DA(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltk
DK(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,R
DR(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdx

ND_X(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdy
ND_Y(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdz
ND_Z(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,apos
ND_A(inode,istep) = pval
C=2.29E-10
M = 2
W=100
PF=450
BB=12
PI=3.1416
a0 = 46.6
aw=a0/W
Z=16.7*aw**0.5-104.7*aw**1.5+369.9*aw**2.5
ZZ=-573.8*aw**3.5+360.5*aw**4.5
ZZZ=PF/BB*SQRT(PI/W)
DeltK= ZZZ*(ZZ+Z)
DK_R(inode,istep) = DeltK
DeltN = DA(inode,1)/(C*(DeltK**M))
DN_R(inode,istep) = DeltN
*if,inode,eq,1,then
OUT0_DN(istep,1)=DN(1,istep)
OUT0_DA(istep,1)=DA(1,istep)
OUT0_DK(istep,1)=DK(1,istep)
OUT0_DN(istep,2)=DN_R(1,istep)
OUT0_DK(istep,2)=DK_R(1,istep)
*else
OUT1_DN(istep,1)=DN(inode,istep)
OUT1_DA(istep,1)=DA(inode,istep)
OUT1_DK(istep,1)=DK(inode,istep)
OUT1_DN(istep,2)=DN_R(inode,istep)
OUT1_DK(istep,2)=DK_R(inode,istep)
*endif
*enddo
SET,NEXT
*do,istep,2,nstep

numNd(istep,1) = pval
! get tip node numbers
*do, inode, 1, 2
*if,inode,eq,1,then
*get, NdNum, CINT,crkId, NODE, inode
*else
*get, NdNum, CINT,crkId, NODE, numNd(istep,1)
*endif
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltn

DN(inode,istep) = DN(inode,istep-1) + pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dlta
DA(inode,istep) = DA(inode,istep-1) + pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltk
DK(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,R
DR(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdx

ND_X(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdy
ND_Y(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,crdz
ND_Z(inode,istep) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,crkId,CTIP,NdNum,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,apos
ND_A(inode,istep) = pval
! calculate the reference results
DA0=DA(inode,istep-1)
a0 = 46.6+DA0
aw=a0/W
Z=16.7*aw**0.5-104.7*aw**1.5+369.9*aw**2.5
ZZ=-573.8*aw**3.5+360.5*aw**4.5
ZZZ=PF/BB*SQRT(PI/W)
DeltK= ZZZ*(ZZ+Z)
DK_R(inode,istep) = DeltK
Nst = (DA(inode,istep)-DA0)/(C*(DeltK**M))
DeltN = DN_R(inode,istep-1) + Nst
DN_R(inode,istep) = DeltN
*if,inode,eq,1,then
OUT0_DN(istep,1)=DN(1,istep)
OUT0_DA(istep,1)=DA(1,istep)
OUT0_DK(istep,1)=DK(1,istep)
OUT0_DN(istep,2)=DN_R(1,istep)
OUT0_DK(istep,2)=DK_R(1,istep)
*else
OUT1_DN(istep,1)=DN(inode,istep)
OUT1_DK(istep,1)=DK(inode,istep)
OUT1_DA(istep,1)=DA(inode,istep)
OUT1_DN(istep,2)=DN_R(inode,istep)
OUT1_DK(istep,2)=DK_R(inode,istep)
*endif
*enddo
SET,NEXT
*enddo
*DIM,LABEL,array,nstep,1
*DIM,DNTab,table,nstep,1
*DIM,DATab,table,nstep,1
*DIM,DKTab,table,nstep,1
*do,i,1,nstep
LABEL(i)=i
*VFILL,DNTab(i,1),DATA,DN(1,i)
*VFILL,DATab(i,1),DATA,DA(1,i)
*VFILL,DKTab(i,1),DATA,DK(1,i)
*enddo
!Plot results
/show,PNG
/view,1,1,1,1
/dscale,,0
/graphics,power
/AXLAB,X,Crack Extension
/AXLAB,Y,Number Of Cycles
/GCOL,1,MAPDL
/GCOL,2,TARGET
*VPLOT,DATab(1,1),DNTab(1,1),2
/AXLAB,Y, DELTA-K
/GCOL,1,MAPDL
/GCOL,2,TARGET
*VPLOT,DATab(1,1),DKTab(1,1),2
/out
/COM, ----------------------SOLVER RESULTS COMPARISON------------------------
/COM,
/COM, DK OF THE FIRST NODE
/COM,
/COM,Step | A value | TARGET | Mechanical APDL
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
/out
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),OUT0_DA(1,1),OUT0_DK(1,2),OUT0_DK(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.5,' ',F14.5)
/out
/COM,
/COM, DN OF THE FIRST NODE
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
/out
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),OUT0_DA(1,1),OUT0_DN(1,2),OUT0_DN(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.5,' ',F14.5)
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, DK OF THE LAST NODE
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
/out
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),OUT1_DA(1,1),OUT1_DK(1,2),OUT1_DK(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.5,' ',F14.5)
/out
/COM,
/COM, DN OF THE LAST NODE
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
/out
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),OUT1_DA(1,1),OUT1_DN(1,2),OUT1_DN(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.5,' ',F14.5)
/com,
/out,scratch
da_comparison0=2.5
da_comparison1=3.0
*if,OUT0_DA(6,1),lt,da_comparison0,then
/out,
/com,===================================
/com, Comparison FAILED
/com,===================================
*elseif,OUT0_DA(6,1),gt,da_comparison1,then
/out,
/com,===================================
/com, Comparison FAILED
/com,===================================
*else
/out,
/com,===================================
/com, Comparison SUCCESSFUL
/com,===================================
/out,scratch
*endif
finish
/out,scratch
3.3. VCCT-Based Crack-Growth Simulation

The virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) was initially developed to calculate the energy-release rate
of a cracked body [6]. It has since been widely used in the interfacial crack-growth simulation of laminate
composites, with the assumption that crack growth is always along a predefined path, specifically the
interfaces [7][8][9][10].
VCCT-based crack-growth simulation is available with current-technology linear elements PLANE182

and SOLID185.
A VCCT-based crack-growth simulation involves the following assumptions:
• Crack growth occurs along a predefined crack path.
• The path is defined via interface elements.
• The analysis is quasi-static and does not account for transient effects.
• The material is linear elastic and can be isotropic, orthotropic or anisotropic.
• The model undergoes small deformation (or small rotation) (NLGEOM,OFF).
The crack can be located in a material or along the interface of the two materials. The fracture criteria
are based on energy-release rates calculated using VCCT. Several fracture criteria are available, including
a user-defined option. Multiple cracks can be defined in an analysis.
A VCCT-based crack-growth simulation uses:
• Interface elements INTER202 (2-D) and INTER205 (3-D).
• The CINT command to calculate the energy-release rate (p. 36).
• The CGROW command to define the crack-growth set, fracture criterion, crack-growth path, and solution-
control parameters.
VCCT-Based Crack-Growth Simulation
3.3.1. VCCT Crack-Growth Simulation Process

A VCCT-based crack-growth simulation is assumed to be quasi-static. Following is the general process
for performing the simulation:
3.3.1.1. Step 1. Create a Finite Element Model with a Predefined Crack Path
3.3.1.2. Step 2. Perform the Energy-Release Rate Calculation
3.3.1.3. Step 3. Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation
3.3.1.4. Example: Crack-Growth Set Definition
Crack-growth simulation is a nonlinear structural analysis. The analysis details presented here emphasize
features specific to crack growth.
3.3.1.1. Step 1. Create a Finite Element Model with a Predefined Crack Path
Standard nonlinear solution procedures apply for creating a finite element model with proper solution-
control settings, loadings and boundary conditions.
The predefined crack path (p. 69) is discretized with interface elements and grouped as an element
component, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.3: Crack Path Discretized with Interface Elements
The interface elements can be meshed via the CZMESH command or by a third-party tool that generates
interface elements.
The element MPC constraint option (KEYOPT(2) = 1) bonds the potential crack faces together before
cracks begin to grow. The MPC constraints are subsequently released when the fracture criterion is met,
thus growing the cracks.
In a 2-D problem, one interface element behind the crack tip may open if it meets the fracture criterion
at a given substep. In a 3-D problem, all interface elements behind the crack front may open if they
meet the fracture criterion.
Differences in the size of the elements ahead of and behind the crack tip/front affect the accuracy of
the energy-release rate calculation. While the program uses a correction algorithm, it may be inadequate
to produce an accurate solution. Instead, use equal sized meshes for elements along the predefined
crack path. For more information, see Fracture Parameter Calculation Types (p. 23).
3.3.1.1.1. Generating Interface Elements via CZMESH

When using the CZMESH command to generate interface elements along the predefined crack path,
add interface elements along the entire interface (including the initial crack and the predefined crack
path), then delete interface elements on the initial crack:
Figure 3.4: Adding Interface Elements Along the Entire Interface
Figure 3.5: Deleting Interface Elements on the Initial Crack
3.3.1.2. Step 2. Perform the Energy-Release Rate Calculation

For VCCT-based crack-growth simulation, it is necessary to perform the energy-release rate calcula-
tion (p. 36) first.
To calculate the energy-release rates, issue the CINT,TYPE,VCCT command. Issue subsequent CINT
commands to specify other options such as the crack-tip node component and crack plane/edge normal.
The VCCT calculation uses the following assumptions:
• The strain energy released when a crack advances by a small amount is the same as the energy required to
close the crack by the same amount.
• The crack-tip field/deformation at the crack-tip/front location is similar to when the crack extends by a small
amount.
The assumptions do not apply when crack-growth approaches the boundary or when the two cracks
approach each other; therefore, use the VCCT calculation with care and examine the analysis results.
For further information, see VCCT Energy-Release Rate Calculation (p. 36).
3.3.1.3. Step 3. Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation

The crack-growth calculation occurs in the solution phase after stress calculation. To perform the crack-
growth calculation, you must define a crack-growth set, then specify the crack path, fracture criterion,
and crack-growth solution controls. The solution command CGROW defines all necessary crack-growth
calculation parameters.
Perform the crack-growth calculation as follows:

3.3.1.3.1. Step 3a. Initiate the Crack-Growth Set
3.3.1.3.2. Step 3b. Specify the Crack Path
3.3.1.3.3. Step 3c. Specify the Crack-Calculation ID and Fracture Criterion
3.3.1.3.4. Step 3d: Specify Solution Controls for Crack Growth
3.3.1.3.1. Step 3a. Initiate the Crack-Growth Set

To define a crack-growth set (p. 71), issue the CGROW,NEW,n command, where n is the crack-growth
set number.
3.3.1.3.2. Step 3b. Specify the Crack Path

To define the crack path, issue the CGROW,CPATH,cmname command, where cmname is the component
name for the interface elements.
3.3.1.3.3. Step 3c. Specify the Crack-Calculation ID and Fracture Criterion

Specify the crack-calculation ID via the CGROW,CID,n command, where n is the crack-calculation (CINT)
ID for energy-release rate calculation with VCCT. (The CINT command defines parameters associated
with fracture parameter calculations.)
For a simple fracture criterion such as the critical energy-release rate (p. 72), you can specify it by issuing
the CGROW,FCOPTION,GC,VALUE command, where VALUE is the critical energy-release rate.
For a more complex fracture criterion, you can specify the fracture criteria via a material data table. Issue
the CGROW,FCOPTION,MTAB,matid command, where matid is the material ID for the material table.
Several fracture criterion options are available (such as linear, bilinear, B-K, modified B-K, Power Law,
and user-defined).
For more information, see the TB,CGCR command and Fracture Criteria (p. 72).
For each crack-growth set, you can specify only one fracture criterion, and one element component for
crack growth. You can define multicrack-growth sets with different cracks and fracture criteria. Multiple
cracks can grow simultaneously and independently from each other. Cracks can merge to a single crack
when they are on the same interface, as shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.6: Crack Growth and Merging
You can also define the same crack with different fracture criteria in a separate crack-growth set. The
cracks can grow based on different criteria (according to which criterion is met), and are independent
from each other. This technique is useful for comparing facture mechanisms.
3.3.1.3.4. Step 3d: Specify Solution Controls for Crack Growth

Issue the CGROW command to specify solution controls, as follows:

control...
Fracture criterion ratio (p. 72) CGROW,FCRAT,VALUE,
(fc) where VALUE is the ratio.
Initial time step when crack CGROW,DTIME,VALUE,
growth initiates where VALUE is initial time step
To avoid over-predicting the

load-carrying capacity, specify a small
initial time step.
Minimum time step for CGROW,DTMIN,VALUE,
subsequent crack growth where VALUE is the minimum time step
size.
Maximum time step for CGROW,DTMAX,VALUE,
subsequent crack growth where VALUE is the maximum time step
size.
Maximum crack extension CGROW,STOP,CEMX,VALUE,
allowed at any crack-front nodes where VALUE is the maximum crack
extension.
Because crack-growth simulation can

be time-consuming, use this command
to stop the analysis when the specified
crack extension of interest has been
reached.
When a crack extends rapidly (for example, in cases of unstable crack growth), use smaller DTMAX and
DTMIN values to allow time for load rebalancing. When a crack is not growing, the specified time-
stepping controls are ignored and the solution adheres to standard time-stepping control.
3.3.1.4. Example: Crack-Growth Set Definition

The following input example defines a crack-growth set (p. 69):
CGROW,NEW,1
CGROW,CPATH,cpath1
CGROW,FCOPTION,MTAB,5
CGROW,DTIME,1.0e-4
CGROW,DTMIN,1.0e-5
CGROW,DTMAX,2.0e-3
...
3.3.2. Crack Extension

In a crack-growth simulation, a quantity of interest is the amount of crack extension. VCCT measures
the crack extension based on the length of the interface elements that have opened, as expressed by
the following equation and in the subsequent figure:
Figure 3.7: 2-D and 3-D Crack Extension
For 2-D crack problems, the crack extension is the summation of length of interface elements that are
currently open (a). For 3-D problems, the crack extension is measured at each crack-front node and is
the summation of the length of the interface element edges that follow the crack extension direction
(b).
Crack extension Δa is available as CEXT as part of the crack solution variable associated with the crack-
calculation ID, and can be postprocessed similar to energy release rates via POST1 and POST26 postpro-
cessing commands (such PRCINT, PLCINT, and CISOL).
3.3.3. Fracture Criteria

To model the crack growth, it is necessary to define a fracture criterion for crack onset and the subsequent
crack growth. For linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) applications, the fracture criterion is generally
assumed to be a function of Mode I (GI), Mode II (GII), and Mode III ((GIII) critical energy-release rates,
expressed as:
Other parameters may be necessary for some models.
Fracture occurs when the fracture criterion index is met, expressed as:
where fc is the fracture criterion ratio. The recommended ratio is 0.95 to 1.05. The default is 1.0.
The following fracture criteria are available:

3.3.3.1. Critical Energy-Release Rate Criterion
3.3.3.2. Linear Fracture Criterion
3.3.3.3. Bilinear Fracture Criterion
3.3.3.4. B-K Fracture Criterion
3.3.3.5. Modified B-K Fracture Criterion
3.3.3.6. Power Law Fracture Criterion
3.3.3.7. User-Defined Fracture Criterion
The user-defined option requires a subroutine that you provide to define your own fracture criterion.
To initiate a fracture criterion table without the critical energy-release rate criterion, issue the TB,CGCR
command.
3.3.3.1. Critical Energy-Release Rate Criterion

The critical energy-release rate criterion uses total energy-release rate (GT) as fracture criterion. The
total energy-release rate is summation of the Mode I (GI), Mode II (GII), and Mode III ((GIII) energy-release
rates, expressed as:
where is the critical energy-release rate.
For Mode I fracture, the fracture criterion reduces to:
The critical energy-release rate option is the simplest fracture criterion and is suitable for general 2-D
and 3-D crack-growth simulation.
Example 3.1: Critical Energy Release Rate Input

gtcval=10.0
CGROW,FCOPTION,GTC,gtcval
3.3.3.2. Linear Fracture Criterion

The linear option assumes that the fracture criterion is a linear function of the Mode I (GI), Mode II (GII),
and Mode III ((GIII) energy-release rates, expressed as:
where , , and are the Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III critical energy-release rates, respectively.
The three values are input via the TBDATA command, as follows:
Constant TBDATA Comments

Input
C1
Critical Mode I energy-release rate, >= 0
C2
Critical Mode II energy-release rate, >= 0
C3
Critical Mode III energy-release rate, >= 0
Example 3.2: Linear Criterion Input

g1c=10.0
g2c=20.0
g3c=25.0
TB,CGCR,1,,,LINEAR
TBDATA,1,g1c,g2c,g3c
The three constants cannot all be zero. If a constant is set to zero, the corresponding term is ignored.
When all three critical energy-release rates are equal, the linear fracture criterion reduces to the critical
energy-release rate criterion (p. 72).
The linear fracture criterion is suitable for 3-D mixed-mode fracture simulation where distinct Mode I,
Mode II, and Mode III critical energy-release rates exist.
3.3.3.3. Bilinear Fracture Criterion

The bilinear fracture option [8] assumes that the fracture criterion is a linear function of the Mode I (GI)
and Mode II (GII) energy-release rates, expressed as:
where and are the Mode I and Mode II critical energy-release rates, respectively, and ξ and ζ are
the two material constants. All four values can be defined as a function of temperature and are input
via the TBDATA command, as follows:

Input
C1
Critical Mode I energy-release rate,
>0
C2
Critical Mode II energy-release rate,
>0
ξ C3 ξ>0
ζ C4 ζ>0
Example 3.3: Bilinear Criterion Input

g1c=10.0
g2c=20.0
x=2
y=2
TB,CGCR,1,,,BILINEAR
TBDATA,1,g1c,g2c,x,y
The bilinear fracture criterion is suitable for 2-D mixed-mode fracture simulation.
3.3.3.4. B-K Fracture Criterion

The B-K [7] option is expressed as:
where and are the Mode I and Mode II critical energy-release rates, respectively, and η is the
material constant. All three values can be defined as a function of temperature and are input via the
TBDATA command, as follows:

Input
C1
>0
C2
>0
η C3 η>0
The B-K criterion is intended for composite interfacial fracture and is suitable for 3-D mixed-mode
fracture simulation.
Example 3.4: B-K Criterion Input

g1c=10.0
g2c=20.0
h=2
TB,CGCR,1,,,BK
TBDATA,1,g1c,g2c,h
3.3.3.5. Modified B-K Fracture Criterion

The modified B-K (or Reeder) [9] option, is expressed as:
where , , and are Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III critical energy-release rates, respectively, and
η is the material constant. All four values can be defined as a function of temperature and are input
via the TBDATA command, as follows:

Input
C1
>0
C2
>0
C3
Critical Mode III energy-release rate,
>0
η C4 η>0
When = , the modified B-K criterion reduces to the B-K criterion (p. 74).
The modified B-K criterion is intended for composite interfacial fracture to account for distinct Mode II
and Mode III critical energy-release rates, and is suitable for 3-D mixed-mode fracture simulation.
Example 3.5: Modified B-K Criterion Input

g1c=10.0
g2c=20.0
g3c=25.0
h=2
TB,CGCR,1,,,MBK
TBDATA,1,g1c,g2c,g3c,h
3.3.3.6. Power Law Fracture Criterion

The power law [10] option assumes that the fracture criterion is a power function of the Mode I (GI),
Mode II (GII), and Mode III ((GIII) energy-release rates, expressed as:
where , , and are Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III critical energy-release rates, respectively, and
n1, n2, and n3 are power exponents and are also constants. All six values can be defined as a function
of temperature and are input via the TBDATA command, as follows:

Input
C1
>0
C2
>0
C3
Critical Mode III energy-release rate,
>0
n1 C4 n1 > 0
n2 C5 n2 > 0
n3 C6 n3 > 0
The three critical energy-release rates cannot all be zero. If a constant is set to zero, the corresponding
term is ignored.
When power exponents n1, n2, and n3 are set to 1, the power law criterion is reduced to the linear
fracture criterion (p. 73).
The power law fracture criterion is suitable for 3-D mixed-mode fracture simulation where distinct Mode
I, Mode II, and Mode III critical energy-release rates exist.
Example 3.6: Power Law Criterion Input

g1c=10.0
g2c=20.0
g3c=25.0
n1=2
n2=2
n3=3
TB,CGCR,1,,,POWERLAW
TBDATA,1,g1c,g2c,g3c,n1,n2,n3
3.3.3.7. User-Defined Fracture Criterion

A custom fracture criterion that you define is expressed as:
where the fracture criterion is a function of the Mode I (GI), Mode II (GII), and Mode III (GIII) energy-release
rates, and the material constant(s). All values are input via the TBDATA command.
A subroutine that you provide is necessary. For more information, see the Programmer's Reference.
Following is an example subroutine defining a linear fracture criterion:

*deck,user_cgfcrit optimize
SUBROUTINE user_cgfcrit (cgi, cid, kct,
& nprop, prop, fcscl,
& var1, var2, var3, var4)
c*****************************************************************
c
c *** primary function:
c compute facture criterion for crack growth
c user fracture criterion example
c *** notice: this routine contains sasi confidential information ***

c
#include "impcom.inc"
#include "ansysdef.inc"
c
c input arguments
c ===============
c cgi (int,sc , in) CGROW set id
c cid (int,sc , in) CINT ID to be used
c kct (int,sc , in) Current crack-tip node
c nprop (int,sc , in) number of properties
c prop (dp ,ar(*), in) property array
c
c Output arguments
c ===============
c fcscl (dp, sc , ou) fracture criterion
c a return value of one or bigger
c indicates fracture
c
c Misc. arguments
c ===============
c var1 ( , , ) not used
c
c*****************************************************************
c
c *** subroutines/function
c *** get_cgfpar : API to access fracture data
c *** wrinqr : ansys standard io function
c ***
external get_cgfpar
external wrinqr
integer wrinqr
c *** argument
c
INTEGER cgi, cid, kct, nprop
double precision fcscl,
& var1, var2, var3, var4
double precision prop(nprop)
c
c *** local variable
c
integer debugflag, iott
integer nn
double precision g1c, g2c, g3c, g1, g2, g3
double precision gs(4),da(1)
c
c *** local parameters
DOUBLE PRECISION ZERO, ONE
parameter (ZERO = 0.0d0,
& ONE = 1.0d0)
c
c*****************************************************************
c *** initialization
fcscl = ZERO
c *** retrieve energy-release rates

c *** for crack cid and crack-tip node kct
c *** gs(1:3) will be returned as G1, G2, G3
c *** get energy-release rates

nn = 3
gs(1:nn) = ZERO
call get_cgfpar ('GS ', cid, kct, 0, nn, gs(1))
c *** get crack extension

nn = 1
da(1) = ZERO
call get_cgfpar ('DA ', cid, kct, 0, nn, da(1))
c *** energy-release rates

g1 =abs(gs(1))
g2 =abs(gs(2))
g3 =abs(gs(3))
c *** input property from TBDATA,1,c1,c2,c3

g1c = prop(1)
g2c = prop(2)
g3c = prop(3)
c *** linear fracture criterion

fcscl = ZERO
if (g1c .gt. TINY) fcscl = fcscl + g1/g1c
c *** user debug output

debugflag = 1
if (debugflag .gt. 0) then
iott = wrinqr (WR_OUTPUT)
write(iott, 1000) cgi, cid, kct, da(1), fcscl, gs(1:3)
1000 format (5x,'user fracture criterion:'/
& 5x, 'crack-growth set ID =',i5/
& 5x, 'crack ID =',i5/
& 5x, 'crack-tip node =',i5/
& 5x, 'crack extension =',g11.5/
& 5x, 'calculated fracture parameter =',g11.5/
& 5x, 'energy-release rates Gs(1:3) =',3g12.5)
end if
return
end
3.3.4. Example: Crack-Growth Simulation

This example uses a double-cantilever beam with an edge crack at one end. Equal displacements with
opposite directions are applied to the end of the beam about and below the crack in order to open up
the crack, as shown in this figure:
Figure 3.8: Crack Growth of a Double-Cantilever Beam
L = 100 mm, h = 3 mm
ao = 30 mm, w = 20 mm
E11 = 135.3 GPa, E22 = E33 = 9
GPa
G12 = 5.2 GPa
ν12 = ν13 = 0.24, ν23 = 0.46
= 0.28 N/mm, = 0.8
N/mm
The following figure shows the finite element mesh:
Figure 3.9: Double-Cantilever Beam Mesh
PLANE182 with the enhanced strain option (KEYOPT(1) = 2) is used to model the solid part of the
model. INTER202 is used to model the crack path. A plane strain condition is assumed. In the vertical
direction, the model uses 6 elements, and in the horizontal direction are 200 elements.
The following figure shows the predicted load-deflection curve:
Figure 3.10: Double-Cantilever Beam Load-Deflection Curve
The force increases with the applied displacement and peaks quickly before the crack begins to grow.
The reaction force then decreases rapidly at the initial phase of crack growth, the slows down with the
subsequent crack growth. The results match very well with the reference results [11].
The contour plot of maximum principal stress is shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.11: Double-Cantilever Beam Contour Plot
Following is the input file used for the VCCT-based crack-growth simulation of the double-cantilever
beam:
/prep7
dis1=0.9
dis2=12.0
n1=1000
n2=1000
n3=10
dl=100
dh=3
a0=30
nel=200
neh=6
toler=0.1e-5
et,1,182 !* 2d 4-node structural solid element

keyopt,1,1,2 !* enhance strain formulation
keyopt,1,3,2 !* plane strain
et,2,182
keyopt,2,1,2
keyopt,2,3,2
et,3,202 !* 2d 4-node cohesive zone element

!keyopt,3,2,2 !* element free option
keyopt,3,3,2 !* plane strain
mp,ex,1,1.353e5 !* e11 = 135.3 gpa

mp,ey,1,9.0e3 !* e22 = 9.0 gpa
mp,ez,1,9.0e3 !* e33 = 9.0 gpa
mp,gxy,1,5.2e3 !* g12 = 5.2 gpa
mp,prxy,1,0.24
mp,prxz,1,0.24
mp,pryz,1,0.46
g1c=0.28 !* critical energy-release rate

g2c=0.80
g3c=0.80
tb,cgcr,1,,3,linear !* linear fracture criterion
tbdata,1,g1c,g2c,g3c
! FE model
rectng,0,dl,dh/2 !* define areas

rectng,0,dl,0,-dh/2
lsel,s,line,,2,8,2 !* define line division
lesize,all,dh/neh
lsel,inve
lesize,all, , ,nel
allsel,all
type,1 !* mesh area 2
mat,1
local,11,0,0,0,0
esys,11
amesh,2
csys,0
type,2 !* mesh area 1
esys,11
amesh,1
csys,0
nsel,s,loc,x,a0-toler,dl
nummrg,nodes
esln
type,3
mat,5
czmesh,,,1,y,0, !* generate interface elements
allsel,all
nsel,s,loc,x,dl !* apply constraints
d,all,all
nsel,all
!
esel,s,ename,,202 !* select interface element to
cm,cpath,elem !* define crack-growth path
nsle
nlist
nsel,s,loc,x,a0
nsel,r,loc,y,0
nlist
esln
elist
cm,crack1,node !* define crack-tip node component
nlist
alls
finish
/solu
resc,,none
esel,s,type,,2
nsle,s
nsel,r,loc,x
nsel,r,loc,y,dh/2 !* apply displacement loading on top
d,all,uy,dis1
nsel,all
esel,all
esel,s,type,,1
nsle,s
nsel,r,loc,x
nsel,r,loc,y,-dh/2 !* apply displacement loading on bottom
d,all,uy,-dis1
nsel,all
esel,all
autots,on
time,1
cint,new,1 !* crack id
cint,type,vcct !* vcct calculation
cint,ctnc,crack1 !* crack-tip node component
cint,norm,0,2
! crack-growth simulation set

cgrow,new,1 !* crack-growth set
cgrow,cid,1 !* cint id for vcct calculation
cgrow,cpath,cpath !* crack path
cgrow,fcop,mtab,1 !* fracture criterion

cgrow,dtime,2e-3
cgrow,dtmin,2e-3
cgrow,dtmax,2e-3
cgrow,fcra,0.98
nsub,4,4,4
allsel,all
outres,all,all
solve
time,2
esel,s,type,,2
nsle,s
nsel,r,loc,x
nsel,r,loc,y,dh/2 !* apply displacement loading on top
d,all,uy,dis2
nsel,all
esel,all
esel,s,type,,1
nsle,s
nsel,r,loc,x
nsel,r,loc,y,-dh/2 !* apply displacement loading on bottom
d,all,uy,-dis2
nsel,all
esel,all
nsubst,n1,n2,n3
outres,all,all
solve !* perform solution
finish
/post1
set,last
prci,1
!
set,1,4
plnsol,s,1
!
finish
/post26
nsel,s,loc,y,dh/2
nsel,r,loc,x,0
*get,ntop,node,0,num,max
nsel,all
nsol,2,ntop,u,y,uy
rforce,3,ntop,f,y,fy
prod,4,3, , ,rf, , ,20
/title,, dcb: reaction at top node verses prescribed displacement
/axlab,x,disp u (mm)
/axlab,y,reaction force r (n)
/yrange,0,60
xvar,2
prvar,uy,rf
prvar,2,3,4
/com,
finish
3.3.5. VCCT Crack-Growth Simulation Assumptions

VCCT-based crack-growth simulation is available only with current-technology linear elements PLANE182
and SOLID185.
The following assumptions apply to VCCT-based crack-growth simulation:
• The material is linearly elastic, and can be isotropic, orthotropic, or anisotropic.
• The analysis is assumed to be quasi-static. Although a transient analysis is possible, the fracture calculations
do not account for the transient effects.
Modeling Interface Delamination with Interface Elements
• The VCCT-based mixed-mode energy-release rates calculation assumes that the crack-tip field / deformation
at the crack-tip/front location is similar to when the crack extends by a small amount. This assumption does
not apply when crack growth approaches the boundary or when two cracks are close; therefore, use the
VCCT calculation with care and examine the analysis results.
3.4. Modeling Interface Delamination with Interface Elements

A set of four interface elements is available for modeling interface delamination at the interface of two
materials. The elements are capable of representing the cohesive zone between the interface and can
account for the separation across the interface.
The following related topics are available:

3.4.1. Analyzing Interface Delamination
3.4.2. Interface Elements
3.4.3. Material Definition
3.4.4. Meshing and Boundary Conditions
3.4.5. Solution Procedure and Result Output
3.4.6. Reviewing the Results
3.4.1. Analyzing Interface Delamination

An interface delamination analysis with interface elements involves the same general steps that are in-
volved in any nonlinear analysis procedure. Most of these steps, however, warrant special consideration
with regard to behavior at the cohesive zone.
Following is the general procedure, with special considerations indicated, along with links to applicable
sections where more detailed information is available:
1. Build or import the model. There are no special considerations for building or importing the model for
an interface delamination analysis. You perform this step as you would in any typical analysis. See Building
the Model in the Basic Analysis Guide. For further details on building the model, see the Modeling and
Meshing Guide.
2. Define element type. To properly simulate the cohesive zone, you must define structural element types
and corresponding interface element types. See Element Selection (p. 84) in this chapter for more details
on this topic.
3. Define material. Use TB,CZM with TBOPT = EXPO or BILI to define the cohesive zone material that char-
acterizes the separation behavior at the interface. You then input the sets of data using the TBDATA
commands, as applicable.
4. Mesh the model. Use the AMESH or VMESH commands to mesh the structural elements, and use the
CZMESH command to mesh the cohesive zone element interface along the layers. Special restrictions apply
to the CZMESH command in terms of matching the source and target. Also, the order in which you execute
these commands is critical. You can use CZMESH only after the underlying solid model has been meshed.
You can also generate interface elements directly using theEGEN command. Each of these commands in-
volves special consideration for interface elements. See Meshing and Boundary Conditions (p. 87) in this
chapter for more details on this topic.
5. Solve. There are special solving consideration when you perform an interface delamination analysis. These
are primarily concerned with the interface element stiffness loss or softening. Care should be taken to
avoid the numerical instability that may be caused by the delamination and failure of the interface.
6. Review Results. You can print or plot your cohesive zone output items using the PRESOL, PRNSOL,
PLESOL, PLNSOL, or ESOL commands. See Reviewing the Results (p. 88) in this chapter for more details
on this topic.
3.4.2. Interface Elements

Four element types are available for simulating interface delamination and failure:
• INTER202 - 2-D, 4-node, linear element.
• INTER203 - 2-D, 6-node, quadratic element.
• INTER204 - 3-D, 16-node, quadratic element.
• INTER205 - 3-D, 8-node, linear element
The 2-D elements, INTER202 and INTER203, use a KEYOPT to define various stress state options.
3.4.2.1. Element Definition

An interface element is composed of bottom and top surfaces. Figure 205.1: INTER205 Geometry in the
Element Reference shows the geometry of a 3-D 8-node interface element. The element midplane can
be created by averaging the coordinates of node pairs from the bottoms and top surfaces of the element.
The numerical integration of the interface elements is performed in the element midplane. The Gauss
integration scheme is used for the numerical integrations.
3.4.2.2. Element Selection

The simulation of an entire assembly, consisting of the cohesive zone and the structural elements on
either side of the cohesive zone, requires that the interface elements and structural elements have the
same characteristics. When you issue the CZMESH command, the appropriate interface element(s) is
selected automatically, depending on the adjacent structural elements. You can also manually specify
your interface elements. Use the following table as a guideline for choosing interface and structural
elements that have the same characteristics:
For elements with ... use this ... with one of these structural elements:
these interface
characteristics: element:
2-D, linear INTER202 PLANE182
2-D, quadratic INTER203 PLANE183
3-D, quadratic INTER204 SOLID186, SOLID187
3-D, linear INTER205 SOLID65, SOLID185, SOLSH190, SOLID272, SOLID273,
SOLID285
Proper element type is chosen based on the stress states of interest and structural element types used.
Element selection is done by the element type command, ET, for example,
ET,1,205
defines element type 1 as element INTER205.

The following material-definition topics are available for modeling interface delamination with interface
elements:
3.4.3.1. Material Characteristics
3.4.3.2. Material Constants -- Exponential Law
3.4.3.3. Material Constants -- Bilinear Law
3.4.3.4. Viscous Regularization for Cohesive Zone Material (CZM)

The TB,CZM command defines interface separation behavior with interface elements. The interface is
represented by a single element set of these elements. The interface deformation is characterized by a
traction separation law (see below), with the deformation occurring only within the interface elements
(the cohesive zone).
The tension or shear deformations within this zone are of primary interest. The surface behavior of the
material depends on the type of CZM model specified (TB,CZM,,,,TBOPT, where TBOPT = EXPO or BILI).
Unloading behavior is not addressed in the CZM with exponential law (TB,CZM,,,,EXPO).
The surface behavior of the material is highly nonlinear in either case, and the resulting softening or
loss of stiffness changes character rapidly as the element separation increases. Unloading behavior is
not addressed in this configuration.
3.4.3.2. Material Constants -- Exponential Law

The cohesive zone model (TB,CZM,,,,EXPO) uses a traction-separation law, defined as:
for normal traction at the interface, and
for shear traction at the interface, where:
The material constants σmax, , and are input as C1, C2, and C3. The input format is
TB,CZM,,,,
TBDATA,1,C1,C2,C3
This CZM material option must be used with interface elements INTER202, INTER203, INTER204, and
INTER205.
3.4.3.3. Material Constants -- Bilinear Law

The cohesive zone model (TB,CZM,,,,BILI) uses bilinear traction-separation laws, defined as:
where
The material constants are input via the TBDATA command:
Constant Meaning Property

C1 σmax Maximum normal traction
C2 Normal displacement jump at the completion of debonding
C3 τmax Maximum tangential traction
C4 Tangential displacement jump at the completion of debonding
C5 α
Ratio of to , or ratio of to
Note
C6 β Non-dimensional weighting parameter
For more information about defining a cohesive zone material in an interface delamination analysis,
see Bilinear Cohesive Zone Material for Interface Elements and Contact Elements in the Material Reference.
3.4.3.4. Viscous Regularization for Cohesive Zone Material (CZM)

The cohesive zone material (CZM) model supports viscous regularization (TB,CZM,,,,VREG) for stabilizing
interface delamination. For more information, see Cohesive Material Law in the Material Reference and
Viscous Regularization in the Mechanical APDL Theory Reference.
3.4.4. Meshing and Boundary Conditions

3.4.4.1. Meshing
There are three options available for meshing interface elements:
• Use the CZMESH command to generate the interface. You must either define the model into two
components or groups of elements (between which the cohesive zone interface elements will reside),
or specify a coordinate value for the line or plane that will divide the model.
• Use the E command to directly generate interface elements from a set of nodes.
• For generating interface elements directly from a pattern, use the EGEN command.
For most cases, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using linear elements.
3.4.4.2. Boundary Conditions

The interface delamination and failure process involves the stiffness softening and complete loss of the
interface stiffness, which in turn will cause numerical instability of the solution. You should therefore
apply your constraints as boundary conditions. Using forces or pressures will generally cause rigid body
motion after the fracture, and will result in other solution difficulties.
3.4.5. Solution Procedure and Result Output

Interface traction-separation behavior is highly nonlinear. The full Newton-Raphson solution procedure
(the standard ANSYS nonlinear method), is the default method for performing this type of analysis.
Other solution procedures for interface analyses are not recommended.
Like most nonlinear problems, convergence behavior of an interface delamination analysis depends
strongly on the particular problem to be solved. ANSYS has provided a comprehensive solution control
strategy, therefore it is always recommended that you use the ANSYS default solution options, unless
you are sure about the benefits of any changes.
Some special considerations for solving an interface delamination problem:
• When the element breaks apart under external loading, it will lose its stiffness and may cause numerical in-
stability.
• It is always a good practice to place the lower and upper limit on the time-step size (DELTIM or NSUBST),
and to start with a small time step, then subsequently ramp it up. This ensures that all of the modes and
behaviors of interest will be accurately included and that the problem is solved effectively.
• When interface elements are under tension, the normal stiffness is exponentially related to the separation.
That is, the greater the separation, the lower the normal stiffness of the elements.
• When interface elements are under compression, you can align contact elements with the interface elements
to obtain better penetration control.
A convergence failure can indicate a physical instability in the structure, or it can merely be the result
of some numerical problem in the finite element model.
3.4.6. Reviewing the Results

Results from an interface delamination analysis consist mainly of displacements, stresses, strains and
reaction forces of the structural components and the cohesive zone layer information (interface tension,
separation, etc.). You can review the results in POST1, the general postprocessor, or in POST26, the time-
history postprocessor. The results file (Jobname.RST) must be available.
The following topics are available:

3.4.6.1. Reviewing Results in POST1
For a description of the available output components, see the Output Data sections of the element
descriptions for any of the interface elements (for example, INTER202).

In POST1, only one substep can be read in at a time, and that the results from that substep should have
been written to Jobname.RST. (The load step option command OUTRES controls which substep results
are stored on Jobname.RST.) A typical POST1 postprocessing sequence is described below.
To review results in POST1, the database must contain the same model for which the solution was cal-
culated.
1. Verify from your output file (Jobname.OUT) whether or not the analysis converged at all load steps.
• If not, you probably won't want to postprocess the results, other than to determine why convergence
failed.
• If your solution converged, then continue postprocessing.
2. Enter POST1. If your model is not currently in the database, issue RESUME.
Command(s): /POST1
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc
3. Read in results for the desired load step and substep, which can be identified by load step and substep
numbers or by time.
Command(s): SET
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Read Results> load step
4. Display the results using any of the following options. Note that cohesive zone element results, such as
tension and separation, are always displayed and listed in the local coordinate system.
Option: Display Deformed Shape

Command(s): PLDISP
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Plot Results> Deformed Shape
Option: Contour Displays

Command(s): PLNSOL or PLESOL
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Plot Results> Contour Plot> Nodal Solu or
Element Solu
Modeling Interface Delamination with Contact Elements (Debonding)
Use these options to display contours of stresses, strains, or any other applicable item. When display-
ing the interface tension distribution, if other structural mating components are not included, ANSYS
will plot the geometry of those components in gray. To have a better visualization of an interface
tension plot, it is better for you to select the interface elements only.
Option: Tabular Listings

Command(s): PRNSOL (nodal results) PRESOL (element-by-element results) PRRSOL (reaction data)
PRITER (substep summary data), etc.
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results> Nodal Solution
Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results> Element Solution
Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results> Reaction Solution
Option: Animation
You can also animate interface results over time:

Command(s): ANTIME
GUI: Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Animate> Over Time
Many other postprocessing functions are available in POST1. See The General Postprocessor (POST1) in
the Basic Analysis Guide for details. Load case combinations usually are not valid for nonlinear analyses.

You can also review the load-history response of a nonlinear structure using POST26, the time-history
postprocessor. Use POST26 to compare one ANSYS variable against another. For instance, you might
graph the interface separation vs. interface tension, which should correspond to the material behavior
defined by TB,CZM. You might also graph the displacement at a node versus the corresponding level
of applied load, or you might list the interface tension at a node and the corresponding TIME value.
A typical POST26 postprocessing sequence for an interface delamination analysis is the same as the
sequence for a typical nonlinear analysis. See steps 1 through 4 in Reviewing Results in POST26 in the
Structural Analysis Guide.
3.5. Modeling Interface Delamination with Contact Elements (Debonding)

Interface delamination with contact elements is referred to as debonding. Debonding is modeled with
contact elements which are bonded and have a cohesive zone material model defined. There are several
advantages to using debonding to model interface delamination. Existing models with contact definitions
can be easily modified to include debonding, and standard contact and debonding can be simulated
with the same contact definitions.
The following related topics are available:

3.5.1. Analyzing Debonding
3.5.2. Contact Elements
3.5.4. Result Output
3.5.1. Analyzing Debonding

Modeling debonding with contact elements involves the same steps as any other contact analysis. (For
details about setting up a contact analysis, see Surface-to-Surface Contact (Pair-Based).) If you are famil-
iar with setting up a contact analysis, you can easily include debonding in your model. Simply add a
bonded contact option and a cohesive zone material model for the contact elements.
3.5.2. Contact Elements

Debonding can be defined in any model that includes the following types of contact:
• Surface-to-surface (CONTA172 and CONTA174)
• Node-to-surface (CONTA175)
• Line-to-line (CONTA177)
• Line-to-surface (CONTA177) contact
The contact elements must use bonded contact (KEYOPT(12) = 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) with the augmented
Lagrangian method or pure penalty method (KEYOPT(2) = 0 or 1). Debonding is activated by associating
a cohesive zone material model (TB,CZM) with the contact elements.

The following material-definition topics are available for modeling interface delamination (debonding)
with contact elements:
3.5.3.2. Bilinear Material Behavior - Contact (TBOPT = CBDD and CBDE)
3.5.3.3. Bilinear Material Behavior - Interface (TBOPT = BILI)
3.5.3.4. Exponential Material Behavior (TBOPT = EXPO)
3.5.3.5. Post-Debonding Behavior at the Contact Interface

The bilinear material model developed exclusively for contact elements (TB,CZM with TBOPT = CBDD
or CBDE) is the recommended bilinear model for debonding. The material behavior, defined in terms
of contact stresses (normal and tangential) and contact separation distances (normal gap and tangential
sliding), is characterized by linear elastic loading followed by linear softening. The slope of the curve
depends on contact stiffness and a debonding parameter which is defined in terms of material constants.
Two other cohesive zone material models that were developed for use with the interface elements can
also be used to model contact debonding: the bilinear material model (TB,CZM with TBOPT = BILI) and
the exponential material model (TB,CZM with TBOPT = EXPO).
Debonding allows three modes of separation:
• Mode I debonding for normal separation
• Mode II debonding for tangential separation
• Mixed mode debonding for normal and tangential separation
Debonding is also characterized by convergence difficulties during material softening. Artificial damping
is provided to overcome these problems. An option for tangential slip under compressive normal contact
stress for mixed-mode debonding is also provided.
After debonding is completed, the surface interaction is governed by standard contact constraints for
normal and tangential directions. Frictional contact is used if friction is specified for the contact elements.
Modeling Interface Delamination with Contact Elements (Debonding)
3.5.3.2. Bilinear Material Behavior - Contact (TBOPT = CBDD and CBDE)

The cohesive zone material model with bilinear behavior (TB,CZM with TBOPT = CBDD or CBDE ) is
defined as:
where:
P = normal contact stress (tension)

τy = tangential contact stress in y direction
τz = tangential contact stress in z direction
Kn = normal contact stiffness
Kt = tangential contact stiffness
un = contact gap
uy = contact slip distance in y direction
uz = contact slip distance in z direction
d = debonding parameter
To model bilinear material behavior with tractions and separation distances, use TB,CZM with TBOPT
= CBDD. You also input the following material constants with the TBDATA command:
Constant Symbol Meaning

C1 σmax Maximum normal contact stress [1]
C2 Contact gap at the completion of
debonding
C3 τmax Maximum equivalent tangential contact
stress [1]
C4 Tangential slip at the completion of
debonding
C5 η Artificial damping coefficient
C6 β Flag for tangential slip under compressive
normal contact stress; must be 0 (off ) or 1
(on)
1. For contact elements using the force-based model (see the description of KEYOPT(3) for CONTA175 and
CONTA177), input a contact force value for this quantity.
To model bilinear material behavior with tractions and critical fracture energies, use TB,CZM with TBOPT
= CBDE. You also input the following material constants with the TBDATA command:

C1 σmax Maximum normal contact stress [1]
C2 Gcn Critical fracture energy density (energy/area)
for normal separation [2]

C3 τmax Maximum equivalent tangential contact
stress [1]
C4 Gct Critical fracture energy density (energy/area)
for tangential slip [2]
C5 η Artificial damping coefficient
C6 β Flag for tangential slip under compressive
normal contact stress; must be 0 (off ) or 1
(on)
CONTA177), input a contact force value for this quantity.
CONTA177), this quantity is critical fracture energy.
The following is an example of how to define a cohesive zone material with the TB and TBDATA
commands:
TB,CZM,,,,CBDD ! bilinear behavior with tractions and separation distances
TBDATA,1,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6
For more information about this cohesive zone material model, see Cohesive Zone Material for Contact
Elements in the Material Reference.
3.5.3.3. Bilinear Material Behavior - Interface (TBOPT = BILI)

This model follows a bilinear law for traction-separation and differs slightly from the bilinear material
behavior for contact. See Cohesive Zone Material (CZM) Model in the Mechanical APDL Theory Reference
for details on the differences.
To define this material, use the TB,CZM command with TBOPT = BILI. Specify the material constants
as data items C1 through C6 on the TBDATA command as described in Material Constants -- Bilinear
Law (p. 85).
3.5.3.4. Exponential Material Behavior (TBOPT = EXPO)

This model follows an exponential law for traction separation. To define this material, use the TB,CZM
command with TBOPT = EXPO. Specify the material constants as data items C1, C2, and C3 on the TB-
DATA command as described in Material Constants -- Exponential Law (p. 85).
3.5.3.5. Post-Debonding Behavior at the Contact Interface

For the cohesive zone materials with bilinear material behavior (TBOPT = CBDD, CBDE or BILI on the
TB command), you can specify that the cohesive zone interface be “healed” if the surfaces come into
contact again after debonding.
To activate this option, use the TBFIELD,CYCLE command to define the CZM material as a function of
healing cycle number. For more information, see Post-Debonding Behavior of Cohesive Zone Material
in the Contact Technology Guide.
XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation
3.5.4. Result Output

All applicable output quantities for contact elements are also available for debonding:
Output Quantities Symbol Meaning

PRES P Normal contact stress [1]
SFRIC τt Tangential constant stress [1]
TAUR and TAUS τy and τz Components (tangential constant stress) [1]
GAP un Contact gap
SLIDE ut Tangential slip
TASR and TASS uy and uz Components (tangential slip)
CONTA177), this output item is reported as a force quantity.
Debonding specific output quantities are also available and are output as NMISC data. The output
quantities vary based on the CZM model used, as outlined in the tables below.
TB,CZM with TBOPT = CBDD or CBDE (Bilinear Law for Contact)

DTSTART (no symbol) Debonding time history
DPARAM dn, dt, or dm Debonding parameter
DENERI and DENERII Gn and Gt Fracture energies
TB,CZM with TBOPT = BILI (Bilinear Law for Interface)

DTSTART (no symbol) Debonding time history
DPARAM dn, dt, or dm Debonding parameter
DENER Gtotal Total debonding energy
TB,CZM with TBOPT = EXPO (Exponential Law)

DENER Gtotal Total debonding energy
3.6. XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation

The eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) models cracks and other discontinuities by enriching the
degrees of freedom in the model with additional displacement functions that account for the jump in
displacements across the discontinuity. XFEM is a good engineering approach for modeling both sta-
tionary crack problems and crack-growth simulation. The method eliminates the need to remesh crack-
tip regions.
The method offers the following features:
• Extends the conventional finite element method to account for cracks based on the concept of partition of
unity. [1][2][3][4]
• Offers a way to model the cracks without explicitly meshing the crack surfaces.
• Enables fracture-parameter (J-integral (p. 25) and stress-intensity factors (p. 27)) evaluation of stationary
cracks in linear elastic isotropic materials. (The displacement formulation can account for the presence of
singularity.)
• Allows for arbitrary crack growth within the existing mesh. No morphing or remeshing is needed.
• For a growing crack, the method assumes that the discontinuities cut the element fully. (In this case, dis-
placement formulation does not account for the presence of singularity.)
• As the crack grows, the newly introduced crack segments are always assumed to have cohesive zone beha-
vior. [2][3][4]
• It is fully aligned with the crack-growth framework in Mechanical APDL.
Table 3.1: Elements Used in an XFEM Analysis
Element KEYOPTs
PLANE182 • KEYOPT(1) = 0, 1
• KEYOPT(3) = 0, 2, 3
• KEYOPT(6) = 0
SOLID185 • KEYOPT(2) = 0
• KEYOPT(3) = 0
• KEYOPT(6) = 0
Table 3.2: Commands Used in an XFEM Analysis
Element KEYOPTs
CINT Calculates the fracture parameters in case of a stationary
crack, and the maximum circumferential stress used as the
crack-propagation criterion.
CGROW Defines the crack-growth set, fracture criterion, and
solution-control parameters.
The following topics for XFEM-based stationary crack analysis and crack-growth simulation are available:
3.6.1. XFEM Overview
3.6.2. XFEM Analysis Methods
3.6.3. Defining the Model in an XFEM Analysis
3.6.4. XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis
3.6.5. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Analysis
3.6.6. Postprocessing XFEM Analysis Results
3.6.7. XFEM Crack-Growth Simulation References
Also see XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth (p. 126), which uses singularity-based (p. 95) XFEM.
3.6.1. XFEM Overview

With the conventional finite element method (FEM), cracks are modeled explicitly as part of the geometry
definition. When the crack grows (based on some fracture criterion), the mesh must be suitably updated
using morphing and remeshing so that the analysis can continue.
The extended finite element method (XFEM), introduced by Belytschko and Black [5], overcomes the
requirements of updating the mesh as the crack grows. XFEM is based on the partition of unity concepts
outlined in Melenk and Babuska [1].
3.6.2. XFEM Analysis Methods

The techniques used in XFEM can be broadly classified into the following methods:
• Singularity-Based Method (p. 95) -- Accounts for crack-tip singularities as well as the jumps in dis-
placements across the crack surfaces. Cracks may terminate inside a finite element. (See illustration (a)
in Figure 3.12: XFEM Crack Representation in a Finite Element Model (p. 96).)
• Phantom-Node Method (p. 96) -- Accounts for jumps in displacements across the crack surfaces.
Crack-tip singularity is not considered. The crack terminates at the edge (or face) of a finite element.
(See illustration (b) in Figure 3.12: XFEM Crack Representation in a Finite Element Model (p. 96).)
3.6.2.1. Singularity-Based Method

In the singularity-based method, the crack is allowed to terminate inside an element. (See illustration
(a) in Figure 3.12: XFEM Crack Representation in a Finite Element Model (p. 96).)
The displacement functions in the FEM formulation are enhanced by introducing additional enrichment
functions that capture the jump in displacement across the crack surface and also the crack-tip singu-
larities:
where:
= Displacement vector
= Conventional nodal shape functions
= Nodal displacement vectors
= Heaviside step function which takes on values of -1 or +1 depending on which side of the
crack the sampling point is located
= Enriched nodal degrees of freedom accounting for the jump in displacement
= Crack-tip functions
= Nodal degrees of freedom accounting for the crack-tip singularity
The functions differ according to material [10][11][12].
Figure 3.12: XFEM Crack Representation in a Finite Element Model
3.6.2.2. Phantom-Node Method

The phantom-node method [3][4][8][9] considers only the displacement jump across the crack faces
and ignores the crack-tip singularity contributions. Thus, the displacement formulation becomes:
By introducing phantom nodes superposed on the parent element nodes (as shown in Fig-
ure 3.13: Phantom-Node Method (p. 97)), the displacement function can be rewritten in terms of the
displacements of the real nodes and the phantom nodes [3] as:
which leads to a superposed element formulation that essentially splits the parent element into two
subelements. Here:
= Displacement vector in subelement 1

= Displacement vector in subelement 2
= Crack-surface definition
and are the Heaviside step functions, defined as
Figure 3.13: Phantom-Node Method
= +
Phantom nodes
User-defined nodes
3.6.3. Defining the Model in an XFEM Analysis

Only linear elastic isotropic material behavior is supported in an XFEM analysis. Element support is
shown in Table 3.1: Elements Used in an XFEM Analysis (p. 94).
In the finite element model, the crack is defined as a line (or surface) discontinuity in the model. Set
up the initial crack as follows:
3.6.3.1. Step 1: Define the Crack-Enrichment Parameters
3.6.3.2. Step 2: Define the Enhancement Radius to Account for Crack-Tip Singularity Effects
3.6.3.3. Step 3: Define the Snap Tolerance to Snap Crack Tip to Element Face
3.6.3.4. Step 4: Define the Initial Crack
3.6.3.1. Step 1: Define the Crack-Enrichment Parameters

Define an enrichment region in the model associated with the crack. The enrichment region is enhanced
with the additional internal nodes necessary to support the enriching displacement functions as required.
Multiple initial cracks can be defined in the region.
Define the enrichment region conservatively. The analysis becomes more computational intensive as
more internal nodes are added in the model.
The enriched region can be associated with a name for identification:
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID
where EnrichmentID is the name assigned for identifying the enrichment region.
Define an element component in which the initial cracks are defined and will possibly propagate:
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName
where CompName is the name of the element component.
The initial cracks specified in the enrichment region can be traction-free or can have an associated co-
hesive zone behavior if necessary. Specify a material ID that describes the cohesive zone behavior of
the initial crack:
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName,MAT_ID
where MAT_ID is the material ID number describing the cohesive zone behavior. If the
material ID is not specified, the crack faces are assumed to be traction-free.
Specify the appropriate XFEM method:
Phantom-node method (p. 96):
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName,,PHAN (default)
Singularity-based method (p. 95):
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName,,SING
Table 3.3: Selecting an XFEM Method
XFEM Method XFEM Analysis Comments

Supported
Phantom-node Crack-growth (p. 114) Enhancement radius (XFENRICH,,,,RADIUS) is not
Stationary-crack (p. 107)used. Fracture parameters J-integral (p. 25) (J) and
stress-intensity factors (p. 27) (K) are not evaluated.
Singularity-based Stationary-crack (p. 107)Material ID (XFENRICH,,,MAT_ID) is not needed (as
crack faces are assumed to be traction-free).
3.6.3.2. Step 2: Define the Enhancement Radius to Account for Crack-Tip Singularity
Effects
The enhancement radius applies only to the singularity-based XFEM method (XFENRICH,,,,SING).
By default, the singularity functions apply to the crack-tip element only. The crack-tip singularity does
not affect the neighboring uncracked elements surrounding the crack tip.
You can account for the effects of the crack-tip singularity in a region around the crack tip by specifying
a radius within which the program includes the singularity functions in the element formulation:
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName,,SING,RADIUS
Figure 3.14: Defining a Crack-Tip Radius to Account for Crack-Tip Singularity Effects
3.6.3.3. Step 3: Define the Snap Tolerance to Snap Crack Tip to Element Face
The snap-tolerance specification applies only to the 2-D singularity-based XFEM method (XFEN-
RICH,,,,SING).
In a typical singularity-based XFEM analysis, it is good practice to position the crack tip somewhere in
the middle region of the element. A snap tolerance is available, enabling the crack tip to automatically
snap the crack tip to the closest element edge (or face) available:
XFENRICH,EnrichmentID,CompName,,SING,RADIUS,SNAPTOLER
Figure 3.15: Defining Snap Tolerance
The program considers the tolerance value and the average element length to determine if the crack
tip should be snapped to the face or not. The default snap tolerance is 1.E-6.
3.6.3.4. Step 4: Define the Initial Crack

The following two methods are available for defining the initial crack:
3.6.3.4.1. Level-Set Method
3.6.3.4.2. MESH200 Element Method
3.6.3.4.1. Level-Set Method

The level-set method defines the location of the crack in the finite element model [13][14]. The crack
geometry in an element is defined by specifying two signed distance functions at the nodes of the
element. The two signed distance functions at the nodes represent the position of the nodes from the
crack surface and from the crack front.
Define the level-set values PHI and PSI:
XFDATA,LSM,ELEMNUM,NODENUM,PHI,PSI
The level-set value PHI is evaluated as shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.16: Calculating the PHI Level-Set Value
The value of PHI must be > 0 or < 0. (PHI = 0 is invalid.)
The level-set value PSI is evaluated for all cracked elements associated with a given crack tip, as shown:
Figure 3.17: Calculating the PSI Level-Set Value
The PSI = 0 plane is assumed to be perpendicular to the crack plane at the crack tip.
Table 3.4: Considerations for Defining the Initial Crack
Criterion Comments
Crack-tip position For the singularity-based method (p. 95), the crack tip can be
positioned anywhere within or on the edge (or face) of the element.
For the phantom-node method (p. 96), the crack tip must be
positioned on the edge (or face) of the element (that is, the crack
cuts the element fully).
PSI value Not used with the phantom-node method.
Multiple cracks If you define multiple cracks in the model, the PHI and PSI values
must be associated with the appropriate cracks.
Initial crack position The initial crack cannot cut the element at the nodes of the element
nor pass through the nodes of an element. If the crack is very close
to an edge (or face), position it slightly away from the edge (or
face) of an element by specifying a suitable PHI value.
3.6.3.4.2. MESH200 Element Method

With this method, the crack-surface geometry is positioned appropriately within the base-element mesh,
then discretized using MESH200 elements.
Mechanical APDL calculates the signed distance functions ϕ and ψ at the nodes of the cracked elements.
You can list the ϕ and ψ values of the cracked elements (XFLIST).
The program identifies and stores crack-front elements in an element component named _XFCRKFREL
n (where n = 1, 2, 3, … depending on the number of crack fronts arbitrarily identified in the model).
For example, if a model has two crack fronts, the two crack-front element components are identified
as: _XFCRKFREL1 and _XFCRKFREL2.
The component name and the list of elements in the component appear in the output file for verification.
You can also use the component to identify the crack-front elements required for the fracture parameter
calculations (CINT,CXFE).
Defining the Crack Surface for an XFEM Analysis Using MESH200 Elements
1. Define the base finite element mesh for the model (composed of either PLANE182 [for 2-D] or SOLID185
[for 3-D] elements).
2. Identify the location of the crack surface in the base mesh and insert the geometry of the crack surface
within the base finite element mesh.
Ensure that the crack geometry does not intersect the base mesh at the nodes of the elements.
3. Discretize the crack-surface geometry with MESH200 elements:
• For 2-D: Use 2-D lines defined by two nodes and set KEYOPT(1) = 0.
• For 3-D: Use 3-D triangles defined by three nodes and set KEYOPT(1) = 4.
4. Set up an element component composed of the MESH200 elements used to define the crack surface(s).
5. Set up a node component composed of the crack-front nodes of the MESH200 elements.
6. Calculate the signed distance functions of the nodes of the intersected base mesh elements:
XFCRKMESH, EnrichId, Mesh200Comp, CrackFrontNodeComp
The following figure shows edge-crack and center-crack specimens:
Figure 3.18: 2-D Crack-Surface Definition
The blue box identifies the previously defined (XFENRICH) base-element component. The red line in-
dicates the crack surface meshed with MESH200 elements (grouped as an element component). Blue
dots indicate crack-tip nodes (grouped into a node component).
The following figure shows an edge-crack specimen, the crack surface discretized with MESH200 elements:
Figure 3.19: 3-D Crack-Surface Definition
The blue box identifies the previously defined (XFENRICH) base-element component. The MESH200
elements are grouped as an element component. Red dots indicate crack-front nodes (grouped into a
node component) on the crack-surface mesh.
The following figure shows how the program identifies crack-front elements for a center crack, given
a properly defined crack surface:
Figure 3.20: Center-Crack Specimen with Meshed Crack Surface
Both the crack-front elements and the MESH200 elements are shown for clarity.
Example 3.7: Generating a Center Crack in a 2-D XFEM Model (MESH200 Method)
/prep7
/com
/com ******************************************************
/com
/com Sample input file for generating a center crack
/com in a 2-D XFEM model
/com
/com ******************************************************
! element types
et,1,182
!materials
mp, ex, 1, 3.0e6
mp, nuxy, 1, 0.3
mp, dens, 1, 1.0
! define rectangular area

blc4, 0.0, 0.0, 8, 10, 0
! mesh the area

type, 1
mat, 1
lesize, 1 , , , 11
lesize, 2 , , , 11
mshkey,1
amesh, 1
! Element component for XFENRICH command

esel,s,cent,x,0, 8
esel,r,cent,y,4,6
cm, testcmp, elem
allsel
! define keypoints for crack surface
k, 11, 2.0, 5.0

k, 12, 6.2, 5.0
l, 11,12
! mesh the crack surface with MESH200 elements

et, 2, 200, 0 ! keyopt(1) = 0 to generate line meshes
type,2
mat, 2
lmesh,5
! define Mesh200 element component defining the crack surface

esel,s,type,,2
cm,m200el,elem
allsel
! mesh200 node component for crk front

nsel,s,loc,x,2.0
nsel,r,loc,y,5.0
nsel,a,loc,x,6.2
nsel,r,loc,y,5.0
cm, m200nd, node
allsel
!define enrichment identification

xfenrich, ENRICH1, TESTCMP,,SING,0
! define LSM values

xfcrkmesh,ENRICH1, m200el, m200nd
allsel
xflist ! print crack information
Example 3.8: Generating a Center Crack in a 3-D XFEM Model (MESH200 Method)
/prep7
/com
/com ******************************************************
/com
/com Sample input file for generating a center crack
/com in a 3-D XFEM model
/com
/com ******************************************************
! element types
et,1,185
!material definition
mp, ex, 1, 3.0e6
mp, nuxy, 1, 0.3
mp, dens, 1, 1.0
! define rectangular block

blc4, 0.0, 0.0, 8, 10, 5
! mesh the volume

type, 1
mat, 1
lesize, 1 , , , 11
lesize, 2 , , , 10
lesize, 11, , , 5
vmesh, 1
! Element component for XFENRICH command

esel,s,cent,x,0, 8
esel,r,cent,y,4,6
cm, testcmp, elem
allsel
! define keypoints for crack surface

k, 11, 2.0, 5.0, 5.0
k, 12, 6.2, 5.0, 5.0
k, 13, 6.2, 5.0, 0.0
k, 14, 2.0, 5.0, 0.0

a, 11,12,13,14
! mesh the crack surface with MESH200 elements

et, 2, 200, 4 ! keyopt(1) = 4 to generate triangular meshes
type,2
mat, 2
amesh,7
! define Mesh200 element component defining the crack surface

esel,s,type,,2
cm,m200el,elem
allsel
! mesh200 node component for crk front

lsel, s, line,,14
lsel, a, line,,16
nsll,,1
cm, m200nd, node
allsel
!define enrichment identification

xfenrich, ENRICH1, TESTCMP,,SING,0
! define LSM values

xfcrkmesh,ENRICH1, m200el, m200nd
allsel
xflist ! print crack information
3.6.4. XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis

The XFEM method for stationary cracks applies to the singularity-based (p. 95) method only, as that
method enables evaluation of the J-integral (p. 25) and stress-intensity factors (p. 27) (SIFS) parameters.
Although the phantom-node (p. 96) XFEM method can be used for stationary-crack analysis, J-integral
and SIFS fracture parameters cannot be evaluated when using this method.

3.6.4.1. Understanding XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis
3.6.4.2. Performing the XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis
3.6.4.3. Example: XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis
3.6.4.1. Understanding XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis

For a stationary crack analysis, ANSYS, Inc. recommends using the singularity-based method (p. 95)
XFEM method. This approach accounts for both crack-tip singularity effects and the jumps in displace-
ments across the crack surfaces. Cracks may terminate at the edge (or face) of a finite element or they
may terminate inside the element.
The displacement function in the singularity-based method is:
The singularity functions are given as [5][10]:
Where represent the coordinates of a polar coordinate system with the origin centered at the
crack tip.
The level-set values offer a convenient way of characterizing the crack-tip stress and displacement
fields instead of the local coordinates.
The relationship is expressed as [14]:
and
All the expressions in the finite element discretization of the virtual work is expressed in terms of .
3.6.4.1.1. Level-Set Values for Uncracked Elements Surrounding the Crack Tip
To account for the singularity effects in the uncracked elements surrounding the crack tip (XFENRICH,En-
richmentID,CompName,,SING,RADIUS), Mechanical APDL calculates the level-set values for those
elements automatically. [15][16][17][18]
3.6.4.2. Performing the XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis

After the model is set up (p. 97), standard solution procedure apply. You can request the fracture fracture
parameters J-integral (p. 25) and stress-intensity factors (p. 27) (CINT).
The commands for requesting the fracture parameters are:
Command Purpose
CINT,NEW,1 Requests a new domain integral calculation
CINT,TYPE,JINT (or SIFS) Requests the desired fracture parameter (J-integral or
stress-intensity factors, respectively).
CINT,CXFE,CompName Specifies the name of element component (CompName) containing
the crack-front element set.
CINT,NCON,n Specifies the number of contours (n) required.
3.6.4.3. Example: XFEM-Based Stationary Crack Analysis

The XFEM-based stationary crack simulation uses a single edge notched (SEN) specimen with a crack-
length (a) to -width (W) ratio, a/W = 0.5. The specimen is subjected to pressure P = 100 N/mm2 on the
upper and lower faces.
Figure 3.21: SEN Specimen
The specimen is modeled with the PLANE182 element (with KEYOPT(1) = 0, KEYOPT(3) =2, KEYOPT(6)
= 0). A fine mesh is used in the region near the crack surface:
Figure 3.22: Finite Element Mesh for the SEN Specimen
Linear elastic isotropic material behavior is assumed.
The fracture parameter and are calculated and stored (CINT) for every substep of the analysis.
During the post-processing stage, the and values are extracted (PRCINT).
Figure 3.23: Equivalent Stress Distribution Following the Analysis
The following table compares the calculated values of the J-integral (p. 25) and stress-intensity
factors (p. 27) (averaged over contours 3 through 8) to the theoretical results:
Table 3.5: Calculated Results vs. Theorectical Results
Fracture Mechanical APDL Results Theoretical Results

Parameter
1127.3 1120.383
38.517 38.076
3.6.4.3.1. Input File Used in This Example

Following is the input file used for the stationary crack analysis of the SEN specimen:
/prep7
! used to create a cdb file if needed

_geomgen=1
_exit=0
*if,_geomgen,eq,1,then
a=5 !--- CRACK LENGTH

W=10 !--- WIDTH OF MODEL
H=20 !--- HEIGHT OF MODEL
PRES=100 !--- PRESSURE
E=3.0e4 !--- YOUNG'S MODULUS
NU=0.3 !--- POISSON'S RATIO

RO=1.0 !--- DENSITY
! element types etc

et,1,182
keyopt,1,3,2
! continuum material behavior

mp, ex, 1, 3.e04
mp, nuxy, 1, 0.3
mp, dens, 1, 1.
! define keypoints
k, 1, 0.0, -2.0
k, 2, W, -2.0
k, 3, W, 2.0
k, 4, 0.0, 2.0
k, 5, W, -H/2
k, 6, 0.0, -H/2
k, 7, 0.0, H/2
k, 8, W, H/2
! define area with KP

a, 1,2,3,4
a, 1,2,5,6
a, 3,4,7,8
! set up the meshing size

xnume=79 ! number of elements in x, which should be odd
ynume=33 ! number of elements in y , which should be odd
lsel,s,line,,1,3,2
LESIZE,all, , ,xnume, , , , ,1
lsel,s,line,,2,4,2
LESIZE,all, , ,ynume, , , , ,1
! mesh the area

type, 1
mat, 1
MSHKEY,1
amesh,1
esize,10/5
MSHKEY,0
amesh,2,3
allsel
! Element component required for XFENRICH command

esel, s, cent, y, -2,2
esel, r, cent, x, 0,9
cm, testcmp, elem
allsel
!
! define enrichment identification
!
xfenrich, ENRICH1, testcmp, , SING,1.5
allsel
/com *************************************************************
/com
/com INITIAL CRACK DATA
/com
/com *************************************************************
yc = 0.0
xc = 5.0
nsel, s, loc, x, 0 , xc
esln,s,
esel, r, cent, y, -1e-3, 1e-3
cm, cenelem, elem

nelem = 1000
iel = 0
Phi = 0.0
Psi = 0.0
*do, i, 1, nelem, 1
iel = elnext(iel)
*if, iel, ne, 0, then
*do, j, 1, 4, 1
nd = nelem(iel,j)
Phi = ny(nd) - yc
Psi = nx(nd) - xc
xfdata, ENRICH1, LSM, iel, nd, Phi, Psi
*enddo
*endif
*enddo
xflist
! crk tip element
esel,s,cent,x,xc-10/xnume/2,xc+10/xnume/2
esel,r,cent,y,-1e-2,1e-2
cm, crktipelem, elem

allsel,all
!b.c. - bottom face

nsel, s, loc, y, -10.0
sf, all, pres, -100
allsel
! b.c. - top face

nsel, s, loc, y, 10.0
sf, all, pres, -100
allsel
! b.c - fix rbm - nodes on rt face

nsel, s, loc, x, 10.0
nsel, r, loc, y, -4/ynume/2*1.05,4/ynume/2*1.05
d, all, all, 0.
allsel
cdwrite,all,xfem-sl201s,cdb
*if,_exit,eq,1,then
/exit,nosave
*endif
*else
/PREP7
cdread,db,xfem-sl201s,cdb
*endif
finish
! Solution Module
/solu
antype,0
time, 1.0
deltim, 0.1, 1.0E-01, 0.2
outres,all, all
! CINT calculations
CINT, NEW, 1
CINT, TYPE, JINT
CINT, CXFE, crktipelem
CINT, NCON, 8
CINT, NORM, 0, 2
CINT, NEW, 2
CINT, TYPE, SIFS

CINT, CXFE, crktipelem
CINT, NCON, 8
CINT, NORM, 0, 2
solve
finish
/post1
set,last,last
/OUT
/COM ***** RESULTS *****
/COM
/COM ***** PRINT NODAL RESULTS *****
/COM
/COM >>> JINTEGRAL
/COM
PRCINT,1,,JINT
/COM
/COM >>> MODE 1 STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR
/COM
PRCINT,2,,K1
/COM
/COM >>> MODE 2 STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR
/COM
PRCINT,2,,K2
/COM
/COM
/COM
/com, expected results J = 38.076167163718
/com, expected results KI = 1120.3830854420
/com, expected results KII = 0
/exit,nosave
3.6.5. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Analysis

An XFEM crack-growth simulation is assumed to be quasi-static. The phantom-node method (p. 96) is
used for such simulations.
Singularity-based (p. 95) quasi-static crack growth is not supported.

3.6.5.1. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Process
3.6.5.2. Example: XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation
3.6.5.3. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Assumptions
3.6.5.1. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Process

Following is the general process for performing an XFEM-based crack-growth simulation:
3.6.5.1.1. Step 1: Define an Initial Crack
3.6.5.1.2. Step 2: Define the Crack-Growth Criterion
3.6.5.1.3. Step 3: Define the Decay of Stresses on the Newly Created Crack Segments
3.6.5.1.4. Step 4: Specify Cohesive Zone Behavior on Initial Crack
3.6.5.1.5. Step 6: Perform the Crack-Growth Criterion Evaluation
3.6.5.1.6. Step 7: Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation
3.6.5.1.1. Step 1: Define an Initial Crack

See Defining the Model in an XFEM Analysis (p. 97).
3.6.5.1.2. Step 2: Define the Crack-Growth Criterion

A crack-growth criterion must be specified for newly cracked cohesive segments to initiate ahead of
the existing cracks. When the critical value of the crack-growth criterion is reached ahead of the crack,
new cohesive segments are introduced in the elements ahead of the current crack front. The crack
segments are such that they fully cut the elements ahead of the crack. The crack propagates at the rate
of only one element at a time.
The following topics related to defining fine the crack-growth criterion are also available:
3.6.5.1.2.1. Understanding the Criteria
3.6.5.1.2.2. Specifying the Criteria
3.6.5.1.2.3. Direction of Crack Propagation
3.6.5.1.2.1. Understanding the Criteria
The available crack-growth criteria are:
• STTMAX - Maximum circumferential stress criterion
The maximum circumferential stress criterion [7] is based on evaluating the maximum value of
the circumferential stress when sweeping around the crack tip. (See Figure 3.24: Evaluation
of STTMAX (or PSMAX) Around the Crack Tip (p. 116).) You can specify the positions at which
is evaluated by specifying both the distance ahead of the crack tip and the angles to be scanned
(CINT).
• PSMAX - Circumferential stress criterion based on
An alternative to the maximum circumferential stress criterion is to evaluate the circumferential

stress at a point where . Again, the location at which is evaluated can be specified
(CINT).
Ideally, the maximum circumferential stress criterion and the circumferential stress criterion based
on yield the same result. Due to finite element discretization, however, they may yield
slightly different results.
Figure 3.24: Evaluation of STTMAX (or PSMAX) Around the Crack Tip
3.6.5.1.2.2. Specifying the Criteria
Issue the TB and TBDATA commands to specify a crack-growth criterion, as follows:
TB,CGCR,,,,STTMAX (or PSMAX)
TBDATA,1,VALUE
3.6.5.1.2.3. Direction of Crack Propagation
By default, the crack propagation direction for the STTMAX and PSMAX crack-growth criteria is always
orthogonal to the direction of the circumferential stress whenever the fracture criterion is satisfied.
3.6.5.1.3. Step 3: Define the Decay of Stresses on the Newly Created Crack Segments
When the cohesive segments are initiated, the cohesive stresses in the crack segments gradually decrease
to zero as the deformation progresses. The decay of the cohesive stresses is modeled based on a rigid
linear cohesive law [6].
To define the rigid linear law, issue the TB,CGCR,,,,RLIN command, then specify the following material
constants via the TBDATA command.
Constant Meaning Property

C1 Normal displacement jump at the completion
of debonding
C2 Tangential displacement jump at the completion
of debonding
C3 [1] Non-dimensional weighting parameter
C4 [1] Damping coefficient
1. Must be constant at all temperatures.
3.6.5.1.4. Step 4: Specify Cohesive Zone Behavior on Initial Crack

Initial cracks in the model may or may not have cohesive behavior. If the initial crack requires cohesive
behavior:
• Issue the TB,CZM,,,,BILI command, then specify the material constants via the TBDATA command. (See Bi-
linear Cohesive Zone Material for Interface Elements and Contact Elements in the Material Reference.)
• Specify the material ID (MAT_ID on the XFENRICH command) to invoke the cohesive behavior on the initial
crack.
XFEM supports bilinear (BILI) cohesive zone material behavior only.
3.6.5.1.4.1. Contact Behavior of Crack Faces
By default, the interaction between the crack surfaces is taken into account using a simple penalty
contact formulation in the normal direction. The contact behavior is activated only when the crack
surfaces are assumed to be closed or penetrating. The crack faces are assumed to be in frictionless
contact.
The default contact behavior cannot be changed.
3.6.5.1.5. Step 6: Perform the Crack-Growth Criterion Evaluation

Perform the following tasks to evaluate the maximum circumferential stress ahead of the crack front:
1. Define the elements that form the crack front as a crack-front element set:
CINT,CXFE,CompName
where CompName is the name of the element component.
2. Define the distance ahead of the crack tip (front) at which the circumferential stress is evaluated:
CINT,RADIUS,VALUE
The default distance value (VALUE) is twice the average element length of all elements in the element
component specified via the XFENRICH command.
3. Define the number of intervals, and the minimum and maximum values, for the sweep angle:
CINT,RSWEEP,NUM_INTERVALS,MIN_ANGLE,MAX_ANGLE
The program uses the current crack direction as the basis to sweep around the crack tip from the
minimum to the maximum at the given radius (CINT,RADIUS,VALUE), thereby identifying locations
around the crack tip at which the circumferential stress will be sampled.
If this command is not issued, only the location along the current crack-extension direction at the
given radius is sampled.
4. Calculate the circumferential stress:
CINT,TYPE,STTMAX (or PSMAX)
As the crack grows, the crack-front elements are updated internally so that the crack advances properly.
The specified component (CINT,CXFE,CompName), however, is not updated.
Other Action arguments on the CINT command (such as Action = CTNC, CENC, NCON, SYMM, UMM,
or EDIR) are not considered in an XFEM-based crack-growth analysis.
3.6.5.1.6. Step 7: Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation

The crack-growth calculation occurs in the solution phase once the analysis has converged. The solution
command CGROW defines all necessary crack-growth calculation parameters.
Perform the crack-growth calculation as follows:
1. Initiate the crack-growth set:
CGROW,NEW,SET_NUM
where SET_NUM is the crack-growth set number.
2. Specify the crack-calculation ID:
CGROW,CID,ID_NUM
where ID_NUM is the crack-calculation ID (CINT,NEW,ID_NUM) for either of the fracture parameter
calculations (STTMAX or PSMAX).
3. Specify the XFEM crack-growth method:
CGROW,METHOD,XFEM
The initial crack must have already been specified (XFENRICH and XFDATA) for the XFEM method.
4. Specify the fracture criterion:
CGROW,FCOPTION,MTAB,MAT_ID
where MAT_ID is the material ID number for the material table (specified via the TB,CGCR command).
If this command is not issued, the crack does not propagate.
Other Action arguments on the CGROW command (such as Action = CPATH, DTMIN, DTMAX, or
STOP ) are not considered in an XFEM-based crack-growth analysis.
3.6.5.1.6.1. Smoothing the Crack Front
In 2-D crack growth, the crack front consists of a single node or tip, and new crack segments start from
the previous crack tip.
In 3-D crack growth, however, the crack front consists of several segments, and the new crack front
may not evolve as a smooth surface from the previous crack front. In such cases, the program attempts
to compensate via an element-wise smoothing algorithm based on the technique suggested in Duan
[4].
The smoothing operation may result in the subsequent crack front being discontinuous along the crack
front and with respect to the previous crack front. Generally, however, the crack front propagates in
the appropriate direction depending on the applied loads and the local stress and deformation fields
surrounding the crack front.
3.6.5.2. Example: XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation

This XFEM-based crack-growth simulation example uses a three-point bending problem with an initial
traction-free crack at the middle of the bottom edge of the specimen, as shown:
Figure 3.25: Crack Growth in a Three-Point Bending Specimen
To propagate the crack, a displacement boundary condition is applied at the center of the top edge of
the specimen.
The following figure shows the linear evolution of the stresses in the newly cracked segments:
Figure 3.26: Material Parameters for Linear Decay of Stresses in Newly Cracked Segments
As the normal displacement between the two surfaces of the cracked segment increases, the cohesive
stresses in the cracked segment decreases linearly from A to B. The unloading and reloading path at
any point C follows the path C-O. The value of STTMAX is taken from the crack-growth criterion specified.
The mesh near the region where the crack cuts the single element is shown in the following figure:
Figure 3.27: Three-Point Bending Specimen Mesh and Near-Crack Region
The crack is modeled as cutting just a single element at the edge.
The PLANE182 element (with KEYOPT(1) = 0 and KEYOPT(6) = 0) is used to model the specimen. Plane
strain conditions are assumed. A fine mesh is used in the region where the crack grows, while coarse
mesh is used for the rest of the specimen.
Figure 3.28: Predicted Load-Deflection Curve
The force increases with the applied displacement and slowly peaks as the crack begins to grow. The
reaction force then decreases rapidly in the initial phase of crack growth and then slows down with
subsequent crack growth. The results are similar to the reference results [8].
As expected, the crack propagates in the vertical direction towards the point of application of the dis-
placement boundary condition, as shown:
Figure 3.29: Mises Equivalent Stress at the Final Stage
3.6.5.2.1. Input File Used in This Example

Following is the input file used for the crack-growth simulation of the three-point bending specimen:
/prep7
et,1,182
keyopt,1,3,2 ! Plane strain option
!continuum material behavior

mp, ex, 1, 100.0 ! Young's Modulus
mp, nuxy, 1, 0.0 ! Poisson's Ratio
mp, dens, 1, 1.0 ! Density
!crack-growth criterion
tb, cgcr, 2, , , STTMAX ! Fracture Behavior: Maximum circumferential stress
tbdata, 1, 0.5 ! Maximum normal traction: = 0.5 N/mm2
!Decay of stresses on newly craked interface

tb, cgcr, 2, , , RLIN
tbdata, 1, 0.04, , 0.0
! Define nodes and areas

k, 1, 0.0, 0.0
k, 2, 4.0, 0.0
k, 3, 4.0, 3.0
k, 4, 0.0, 3.0
k, 5, 6.0, 0.0
k, 6, 6.0, 3.0
k, 7, 10.0, 0.0
k, 8, 10.0, 3.0
a, 1,2,3,4 ! Area #1
a, 2,5,6,3 ! Area #2
a, 5,7,8,6 ! Area #3
! Mesh areas
type,1
mat, 1
esize,2.0/21 ! Element size
amesh,2 ! Mesh area #2
esize,0.4
amesh,1,3,2 ! Mesh areas #1 & #3

esel,s,cent,x,4.0,6.0
cm, testcmp, elem
allsel
! Define enrichment identification

xfenrich,ENRICH1,TESTCMP ! Defines parameters associated with crack propagation using XFEM
xfdata, ENRICH1, LSM, 11, 12, 4.76190E-02
xfdata, ENRICH1, LSM, 11, 13, -4.76190E-02
xfdata, ENRICH1, LSM, 11, 417, -4.76190E-02
xfdata, ENRICH1, LSM, 11, 386, 4.76190E-02
/com ******************************************
/com LISTING OF CRACK INFORMATION
/com ******************************************
xflist
! Crack-tip element
esel,s,elem,,11
cm, crktipelem, elem ! Element set component for CINT command
allsel,all
! B.C. Left corner node

nsel,s,loc, x, 0.0
nsel,r,loc, y, 0.0
d, all, uy,0.0
allsel
! B.C. Right corner node

nsel,s,loc, x, 10.0
nsel,r,loc, y, 0.0
d, all, uy,0.0
allsel
! Loading - Displacement on two nodes on top

nsel,s,loc, x, 4.95, 5.048
nsel,r,loc, y, 3.0
d, all, uy, -0.16 ! Uy = -0.16mm
d, all, ux, 0
allsel
finish
/SOLU
antype,0
time, 1.0
deltim, 0.001, 1.E-06, 0.001
outres,all, all
! CINT calculations : Defines parameters associated with fracture parameter calculations

CINT, NEW, 1
CINT, CXFE, crktipelem ! Crack-tip element
CINT, TYPE, STTMAX ! Uses STTMAX
CINT, RSWEEP, 181, -90, 90
! CGROW calculations : Defines crack-growth information

CGROW, NEW, 1
CGROW, CID, 1
CGROW, METHOD, XFEM ! Uses XFEM method for the crack propagation
CGROW, FCOPTION, MTAB, 2 ! Fracture criterion
SOLVE
/com *************************************************************
/com
/com CRACK DATA AFTER PROPAGATION
/com
/com *************************************************************
xflist
finish
/post1
set,list
set,last,last
*get,ldstep, active, 0, set, lstp ! current ldstep #
*get,nsubst, active, 0, set, nset,last ! # of data sets on results file
*dim,nd,array,2
nd(1) = 65
nd(2)= 66
*dim,u,table,nsubst
*dim,f,table,nsubst
*dim,t,table,nsubst
*do, j, 1, nsubst
set,1,j
*get,dispY,node,nd(1),u,y
u(j) = -dispY
*get,curtim,active,0,set,time
t(j) = curtim
totforce = 0.0D0
*do, i, 1, 2
*get,nfor, node, nd(i), RF, FY
totforce = totforce - nfor ! reaction
*enddo
f(j) = totforce
*enddo
/COM *************************************************
/COM
/COM TIME vs. REACTION FORCE
/COM
/COM *************************************************
*vwrite,u(1), f(1)
(1x,' ', f10.4, ' ', F10.4)
finish
3.6.5.3. XFEM-Based Crack-Growth Simulation Assumptions

The following assumptions and restrictions apply to XFEM-based crack-growth simulation:
• Material behavior is assumed to be linearly elastic. The available fracture criteria are valid only for cracks in
homogeneous linear elastic materials.
• The analysis is assumed to be quasi-static. Other analysis types are not available.
• Because the crack-tip singularity effects are not incorporated into the analysis, the stress and deformation
fields around the crack tip are only approximate. This assumption may result in approximate crack direction
prediction during subsequent crack growth. Crack direction prediction may also be affected by boundaries,
other discontinuities, and the local stress and deformation fields due to discretization.
• The crack-propagation direction depends on the distance ahead of the crack tip (front) at which the circum-
ferential stress is evaluated. Some experimentation may be required in when specifying the radius value
(CINT,RADIUS,VALUE).
• Pressure loads on faces of cracked elements are ignored. If the element is not cracked, pressure loads are
imposed; however, if the element cracks during deformation, the program ceases pressure load application.
• In a 3-D XFEM-based analysis, avoid using degenerate forms of the SOLID185 element (prisms, tetrahedron
and pyramids) in the region where the initial crack is defined or assumed to grow.
• A fracture criterion is evaluated after the substep is converged and has completed. If the time stepping is
large, the fracture criterion ratio (CGROW,FCRAT,VALUE) may be exceeded. Limiting the incremental time
step for the substeps results in a better approximation to the fracture criterion ratio.
• Contact elements are not used in regions where the crack is defined or is assumed to grow.
• Element birth and death is not supported.
• Distributed ANSYS is not supported.
3.6.6. Postprocessing XFEM Analysis Results

Use the following standard POST1 (/POST1) commands for postprocessing XFEM-based analysis results:
Command Purpose
array parameter
PLCKSURF Plots the PHI = 0 level set surface in an XFEM-based crack
analysis (p. 93)
To visualize the cracked elements in postprocessing, write the element miscellaneous data to the results
file (OUTRES, MISC).
The POST26 time-history postprocessor (/POST26) is not supported for XFEM analysis.
3.6.7. XFEM Crack-Growth Simulation References

A considerable body of literature exists concerning crack-growth simulation with XFEM. The references
used here are by no means exhaustive.
1. Melenk, J. and I. Babuska.“The Partition of Unity Finite Element Method: Basic Theory and Applications.”
Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 39: 289-314 (1996).
2. Remmers, J.J.C. R. de Borst, and A. Needleman.“The Simulation of Dynamic Crack Propagation using the
Cohesive Segments Method.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 56: 70-92 (2008).
3. Song, J. H., P. M. A. Areias, and T. Belytschko.“A Method for Dynamic Crack and Shear Band Propagation
with Phantom Nodes.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 67: 868-893 (2006).
4. Duan, Qingling., and Jeong-Hoon Song, Thomas Menouillard, and Ted Belytschko.“Element-local Level-
Set Method for Three-Dimensional Dynamic Crack Growth.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in
Engineering. 80: 1520-1543 (2009).
5. Belytschko, T. and T. Black.“Elastic Crack Growth in Finite Elements with Minimal Remeshing.” International
Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 45: 601-620 (1999).
6. Ortiz, M. and A. Pandolfi.“Finite-Deformation Irreversible Cohesive Elements for Three-Dimensional Crack-

Propagation Analysis.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 44: 1267-1282 (1999).
7. Erdogan, F. and G. C. Sih.“On the Crack Extension in Plates under Plane Loading and Transverse Shear.”
ASME Journal of Basic Engineering. 85: 519-527 (1963).
8. Mergheim, J. E. Kuhl, and P. Steinmann.“A Finite Element Method for the Computational Modeling of Co-
hesive Cracks.” International Journal For Numerical Methods in Engineering. 63: 276-289 (2005).
9. Hansbo, A. and P. Hansbo.“A Finite Element Method for the Simulation of Strong and Weak discontinuities
in Elasticity.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 191: 3523-3540 (2004).
10. Sukumar, N. and J.-H Prevost.“Modeling Quasi-Static Crack Growth with Extended Finite Element Method
Part I: Computer Implementation.” International Journal for Solids and Structures. 40: 7513-7537 (2003).
11. Sukumar, N. and Z. Y. Huang, J.-H. Prevost and Z. Suo.“Partition of Unity Enrichment for Bimaterial Interface
Cracks.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 59: 1075-1102 (2004).
12. Elguedj, T. and A. Combescure.“Appropriate Extended Functions for X-FEM Simulation of Plastic Fracture
Mechanics.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 195: 501-515 (2006).
13. Osher, S. and J. A. Sethian.“Fronts Propagating with Curvature-Dependent Speed: Algorithms based on
Hamilton-Jacobi formulations.” Journal of Computational Physics. 79: 12-49 (1988).
14. Stolarska, M. DL Chopp, N. Moes, T. Belytschko.“Modeling Crack Growth by Level Sets in the Extended Finite
Element Method.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 51: 943-960 (2001).
15. Sethian, J. "A Marching Level-Set Method For Monotonically Advancing Fronts,." Proceedings of National
Academy of Science, USA. 93: 1591-1595 (1996).
16. Chopp, D. L. "Some Improvements of the Fast Marching Method." SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing. 23:
230-244 (2001).
17. Sukumar, N., D.L. Chopp, B. Moran. "Extended Finite Element Method and Fast Marching Method For Three-
dimensional Fatigue Crack Propagation." Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 70: 29-48 (2003).
18. Fries, T. P. and M. Baydoun.“Crack Propagation with XFEM and a Hybrid Explicit-Implicit Crack Description.”
International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 89: 1527-1558 (2012).
3.7. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth

The XFEM-based crack-growth simulation (p. 93) technique can be used to simulate fatigue crack growth
in engineering structures. The method offers a convenient engineering approach for simulating cracks
and fatigue crack propagation without resorting to modeling the cracks or remeshing the crack-tip regions
as the crack propagates.
XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth
Following are characteristics of the XFEM-based approach to simulating fatigue crack growth:
• Uses singularity-based (p. 95) XFEM.
• Based on Paris' Law (p. 48) [1].
• Supports 2-D and 3-D fatigue crack-growth simulation in linear elastic isotropic materials only.
• Ignores large-deflection and finite-rotation effects, crack-tip plasticity effects, and crack-tip closure or com-
pression effects.
The following topics for XFEM-based fatigue crack growth are available:
3.7.1. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth in Mechanical APDL
3.7.2. Performing an XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis
3.7.3. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Assumptions
3.7.4. Postprocessing XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Results
3.7.5. Example: XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis
3.7.6. References for Fatigue Crack Growth
For more information about XFEM, see XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation (p. 93).
3.7.1. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack Growth in Mechanical APDL

Mechanical APDL analyzes crack growth in structural components subject to repeated or cyclic loading
using linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) concepts.
The crack-growth rate (crack growth per cycle) is defined as [1]:
where:
= crack length
= number of cycles, (where , = stress-intensity factors at the maximum
and minimum loads, respectively)
= stress/load ratio
The current implementation of fatigue crack-growth simulation in Mechanical APDL is restricted to region
II in the following figure:
Figure 3.30: Variation of Crack-Growth Rate vs. for Metals
The variation in region II is typically described by Paris' Law:
where and are material constants that are determined experimentally. (Several other relationships
have been developed for regions I, II and III [2]).
For crack growth involving mixed-mode fracture, the expression is modified as:
where the maximum circumferential stress criterion [3] is used to define
and
and , the direction of crack propagation, is defined using the maximum circumferential stress criterion:
3.7.1.1. Valid Loading Types

Only cyclic loadings of constant amplitudes are allowed, as shown:
Figure 3.31: Valid Loading Type for XFEM-based Fatigue Crack-Growth Simulation
If the cyclical loading is such that the amplitude changes after some number of cycles, then each set
of cycles with the same load amplitude should be modeled separately as a load step. Overloading
can also be modeled in a similar manner.
3.7.1.2. Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Methods

A typical fatigue crack-growth calculation requires:
• Calculation of at the maximum load
• Calculation of at the minimum load (or using the stress/load ratio )
• Calculation of the crack increment
or
Calculation of the incremental number of cycles
• Stopping the analysis if the specified maximum crack extension is reached
The program calculates or (via the stress ratio ) numerically during the analysis. The determ-
ination of or depends on the fatigue crack-growth method. The program uses a simple
smoothing algorithm to smooth the calculated SIFS values for a given crack front before calculating
the or .
The calculation of or (via the stress ratio ) is performed numerically during the analysis.
The determination of or depends on the fatigue crack-growth method.
A fatigue crack growth can be modeled via either of these methods:

3.7.1.2.1. Life-Cycle (LC) Method
3.7.1.2.2. Cycle-by-Cycle (CBC) Method
3.7.1.2.1. Life-Cycle (LC) Method

The LC method is typically used with constant-amplitude cyclic loads.
The maximum crack-extension increment is user-specified, and the program calculates the number
of incremental cycles based on the fatigue crack-growth law.
LC Method Restrictions
2-D XFEM-based fatigue crack growth:
• The crack-extension increment is restricted to the length of the crack in the element ahead of the
current crack tip.
• Crack extension always propagates the crack one element at a time.
• The initial crack specification must result in fully-cut elements. (Partially cut elements are not
supported.)
• If multiple cracks exist in a model, the program may esitmate the number of cycles differently for
different cracks in the same model.
If multiple cracks exist in a model, the number of cycles may be estimated differently for different
cracks in the same model.
• The initial crack can cut an element fully or partially. The crack-extension increment can cut multiple
elements.
• The maximum crack increment is used along with the maximum (attained at some position
along the crack front) to first calculate . The crack extension at other locations of the crack front are
then calculated based on this and the corresponding calculated for that location.
• If multiple cracks exist in a model, the program may esitmate the number of cycles differently for different
cracks in the same model.
3.7.1.2.2. Cycle-by-Cycle (CBC) Method

The CBC method is suitable for variable-amplitude cyclic loadings and overload simulations.
The incremental cycles are user-specified, and the crack-extension increment is calculated by
the program based on the fatigue crack-growth law.
Restrictions
• The calculated can result in partially cut elements.
• If at any instant the calculated exceeds the element boundaries, the program sets crack extension
length to the remaining uncut portion of the element, and recalculates to grow the crack by
that .
• The program does not modify the crack-propagation angle until the element is fully cut.
• After the crack front advances by the given increment, the program defines a new crack surface internally
and recalculates the LSM values for the cracked elements. Because a cut element cannot have a kinked
crack surface, this method may smooth out a previously kinked crack.
• When calculating the crack increment, if at any point on the crack front the value
(CGROW,FCG,DAMX,Value) or (CGROW,FCG,DAMN,Value) is exceeded, the crack increment
is set to ( or ) and the incremental number of cycles ( ) reported for output purposes at this
location will be based on this .
3.7.2. Performing an XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis

The analysis is assumed to be quasi-static and uses the singularity-based (p. 95) method.
Following is the general process for performing the analysis:

3.7.2.1. Step 1. Define an Initial Crack
3.7.2.2. Step 2. Specify the Fatigue Crack-Growth Law
3.7.2.3. Step 3. Set up the Solution Procedure
3.7.2.4. Step 4. Evaluate the Fracture Parameters
3.7.2.5. Step 5. Set Crack-Growth Calculation Parameters
3.7.2.6. Step 6. Calculate the Fatigue Crack Growth
3.7.2.1. Step 1. Define an Initial Crack

Defining an initial crack using the singularity-based XFEM approach. See Defining the Model in an XFEM
Analysis (p. 97).
For fatigue crack-growth analysis, the following considerations apply:
• In a 2-D XFEM analysis, the initial crack must cut the element(s) fully. For a 3-D analysis, the crack can cut
the elements partially or fully.
• Only PLANE182 and SOLID185 elements (with the KEYOPT settings shown in Table 3.1: Elements Used in an
XFEM Analysis (p. 94)) can be used.
• Only linear elastic isotropic material behavior is supported.
3.7.2.2. Step 2. Specify the Fatigue Crack-Growth Law

Issue the following commands to invoke Paris' Law:
TB,CGCR,,,,PARIS
TBDATA,1,Value1,Value2
3.7.2.3. Step 3. Set up the Solution Procedure

A fatigue crack-growth analysis uses the static analysis procedure only:
ANTYPE,STATIC
By default, the loading is assumed to be step-applied. (KBC,1 is enforced automatically.)
The total time specified (TIME) has no direct effect on the loading or the boundary conditions.
Each substep of the analysis load step yields a finite element solution during which the solution para-
meters are calculated and the crack is propagated. You can issue the DELTIM or NSUBST command to
control the extent of crack propagation in a given load step.
A fatigue crack-growth analysis typically uses fixed time-stepping. Although you can use an automatic
time-stepping scheme, it does not accelerate or decelerate the crack-propagation rate.
If using the LC (p. 130) method, the program controls the crack-growth increment during a substep. If
using the CBC (p. 130) method, a value that you specify (CGROW,FCG,DN) controls the incremental
number of cycles during a substep.
3.7.2.4. Step 4. Evaluate the Fracture Parameters

Evaluate the stress-intensity factors (SIFS), as follows:
1. Specify a new domain-integral calculation (where ID is a number that you specify to identify this crack-
calculation):
CINT,NEW,ID
2. Specify the desired fracture parameter:
CINT,TYPE,SIFS
3. Specify the element component name (CompName) containing the crack-front element set:
CINT,CFXE,CompName
4. Specify the number of contours (n) required:
CINT,NCON,n
The program calculates , and by averaging the SIFS over contours 3 through n.
3.7.2.5. Step 5. Set Crack-Growth Calculation Parameters

The crack-growth calculations occurs in the solution phase after the solution has converged. Set the
crack-growth calculation parameters as follows:
1. Initiate the crack-growth set (where SETNUM is the crack-growth set number):
CGROW,NEW,SETNUM
2. Specify the crack-calculation ID (the same numerical identifier that you specified when setting up this
fracture-parameter calculation [CINT,NEW,ID]):
CGROW,CID,ID
3. Specify the XFEM crack-growth method:
CGROW,METHOD,XFEM
4. Specify the fatigue crack-growth law (where MATID is the material ID [TB,CGCR]):
CGROW,FCOPTION,MTAB,MATID
If this command is not issued, the crack does not propagate.
5. Optional: Stop the analysis when the maximum crack extension is reached:
CGROW,STOP,CEMX,Value
3.7.2.6. Step 6. Calculate the Fatigue Crack Growth

Perform the fatigue crack-growth calculation according the method chosen (LC or CBC):
3.7.2.6.1. Life-Cycle (p. 130) (LC) Method

1. Specify fatigue crack growth using the LC method:
CGROW,FCG,METH,LC
2. Specify the maximum crack-growth increment:
CGROW,FCG,DAMX,VALUE
3. Optional: Specify the minimum crack-growth increment:
CGROW,FCG,DAMN,VALUE
4. Optional: Specify the minimum equivalent stress-intensity factor:
CGROW,FCG,DKMIN,VALUE
The crack does not propagate if the program-calculated is below VALUE.
5. Specify the stress/load ratio:
3.7.2.6.2. Cycle-by-Cycle (p. 130) (CBC) Method

1. Specify fatigue crack growth using the CBC method:
CGROW,FCG,METH,CBC
2. Optional: Specify the maximum (DAMX) and minimum (DAMN) allowable crack increments:
CGROW,FCG,DAMX,VALUE
CGROW,FCG,DAMN,VALUE
3. Specify the incremental number of cycles:
CGROW,FCG,DN,VALUE
4. Optional: Specify the minimum equivalent stress-intensity factor:
CGROW,FCG,DKMIN,VALUE
The crack does not propagate if the program-calculated is below VALUE.
5. Specify the stress/load ratio:
3.7.3. XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Assumptions

2-D and 3-D analyses:
• Fatigue crack growth requires singularity-based (p. 95) XFEM.
• Material behavior is assumed to be linear elastic isotropic.
• Plasticity effects, nonlinear geometry effects, load-compression effects, and crack-tip-closure effects
are not considered.
• For cracks with short kinks, the SIFS may be only approximately path-independent (due to the limited
number of contours that properly encompass the crack tip). This behavior may affect crack-direction
prediction.
• Restarting the analysis (ANTYPE,,RESTART) requires reissuing the CGROW command.
2-D analysis only:
• The maximum allowable crack increment is limited by the crack length in the element ahead of the tip.
The minimum allowable crack increment must be smaller than the crack length in the element ahead
of the tip; if it is larger, the crack increment is limited to the length of the crack in the element ahead
of the tip.
• Crack-path deviation can occur only at element edges (or faces). Crack propagation within an element
occurs along a constant direction (determined when the element begins to crack).
3.7.4. Postprocessing XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Results

Use the following standard POST1 (/POST1) commands for postprocessing fatigue crack-growth analysis
results:
Command Purpose
array parameter
PLCKSURF Plots the Φ = 0 level set surface in an XFEM-based crack
analysis (p. 93)
To visualize the cracked elements in postprocessing, write the element miscellaneous data to the results
file (OUTRES,MISC).
The POST26 time-history postprocessor (/POST26) is not supported.
3.7.5. Example: XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis

The following example illustrates Mode I fatigue crack-growth simulation using the XFEM-based method.
Fatigue crack-growth calulcations apply Paris' Law. [1]
The example analysis uses a SEN specimen with a crack length (a) to width (W) ratio, a/W = 0.5:
Figure 3.32: SEN Specimen
The specimen is subjected to a cyclical pressure P = 10.0 MPa with a stress/load ratio .
Table 3.6: Dimensions, Parameters and Constants
Model Dimensions W = 10.0 mm, L = 20.0 mm, a = 5 mm

Bulk Material Properties
Paris Law Constants
The PLANE182 element (KEYOPT(1) = 0, KEYOPT(3) =0, KEYOPT(6) = 0) is used to model the specimen.
A fine mesh is used in the region near the crack surface:
Figure 3.33: Finite Element Mesh for the SEN Specimen
Linear elastic isotropic material behavior is assumed. The crack tip rests on the edge of the element.
Paris' Law is used to simulate fatigue crack growth in the analysis. (See Table 3.6: Dimensions, Parameters
and Constants (p. 136) for the Paris' Law constants.)
In the solution phase, fixed time-stepping is used. Each substep provides a linear elastic solution used
to calculate the stress-intensity factors (SIFS) (CINT).
The theoretical value of the stress-intensity factor for the SEN specimen is given as: [4]
where:
and is the applied pressure.
For fatigue crack growth, the analysis uses the Life-Cycle (LC) method (p. 130).
The CGROW command specifies the crack-growth-related parameters. The command also specifies the
fatigue crack-growth method and the stress ratio .
3.7.5.1. Analysis Results

Figure 3.34: Final Displacement Plot After Crack Growth Has Occurred
Figure 3.35: Equivalent Stress Distribution at the End of the Analysis
In the fatigue crack-growth LC method, the crack increment is fixed a priori (equal to the crack length
in the element ahead of the current crack tip), and the incremental number of cycles is calculated for
each substep.
The following figure shows the predicted number of cycles (MAPDL) versus the crack extension, as well
as the theoretical results (TARGET):
Figure 3.36: Variation of the Number of Cycles with Crack Extension
In this figure, too, the numerically calculated results (MAPDL) show good agreement with the theoret-
ical results (TARGET):
Figure 3.37: Variation of with Crack Extension
3.7.5.2. Input File Used in This Example

Following is the input file used for the example fatigue crack-growth analysis of the SEN specimen (p. 135):
/prep7
/com Mode-I Fatigue Crack Growth in a SEN specimen
! Model dimensions
a=5 !--- CRACK LENGTH
W=10 !--- WIDTH OF MODEL
H=20 !--- HEIGHT OF MODEL
! applied load
PRES=10
! Material model
E=2.0e5 !--- YOUNG MODULUS
NU=0.3 !--- POISSON'S RATIO
RO=1.0 !--- DENSITY
PI=ACOS(-1)
! Paris Law Constants

C=2.29E-13
M = 3
! Element types
et,1,182
! Continuum material behavior

mp, ex, 1, E
mp, nuxy, 1, NU
mp, dens, 1, R0
! Fatigue crack growth Law Specification

tb, cgcr, 2, , , PARIS
tbdata, 1, C, M
! Define keypoints for base mesh

k, 1, 0.0, -2.0
k, 2, W, -2.0
k, 3, W, 2.0
k, 4, 0.0, 2.0
k, 5, W, -H/2
k, 6, 0.0, -H/2
k, 7, 0.0, H/2
k, 8, W, H/2
! Define areas with KP

a, 1,2,3,4
a, 1,2,5,6
a, 3,4,7,8
! Set up the meshing size

xnume=79 ! number of elements in x, which should be odd
ynume=33 ! number of elements in y , which should be odd
lsel,s,line,,1,3,2
LESIZE,all, , ,xnume, , , , ,1
lsel,s,line,,2,4,2
LESIZE,all, , ,ynume, , , , ,1
! Mesh the areas

type, 1
mat, 1
MSHKEY,1
amesh,1
esize,10/5
MSHKEY,0
amesh,2,3
allsel

esel, s, cent, y, -2,2
esel, r, cent, x, 0,9
cm, testcmp, elem
allsel
! mesh the crack surface with mesh200 elements

et, 2, 200, 0 ! keyopt(1) = 0 for mesh200 line elements
k, 9, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

k, 10,10/79*40,0.0 , 0.0
l,9, 10! define a line
type, 2
mat, 2
lesize,11,,,12
lmesh,11
allsel
! element component for mesh200 elements

esel,s,type,, 2
cm, m200el, elem
allsel
! node component for crack front

nsel, s, loc,x,10/79*40
nsel,r,loc,y,0
nlist
cm, m200nd, node
allsel
! Define enrichment identification

xfenrich, ENRICH1, testcmp, , SING,1.5,0.01
allsel
! Define LSM values for cut elements

xfcrkmesh, ENRICH1, m200el, m200nd
/com
/com *************************************************************
/com
/com INITIAL CRACK DATA
/com
/com *************************************************************
/com
xflist
! b.c. - bottom face

nsel, s, loc, y, -10.0
sf, all, pres, -PRES
allsel
! b.c. - top face

nsel, s, loc, y, 10.0
sf, all, pres, -PRES
allsel
! b.c - fix rbm - nodes on rt face

nsel, s, loc, x, 10.0
nsel, r, loc, y, -4/ynume/2*1.05,4/ynume/2*1.05
d, all, all, 0.
allsel
finish
! Solution Module
/solu
antype,0
time, 1.0
deltim, 0.1, 0.1,0.1
outres,all, all
!Fracture Parameter calculations

CINT, NEW, 1
CINT, CXFE, _XFCRKFREL1
CINT, TYPE, SIFS, 2
CINT, NCON, 8
CINT, NORM, 0, 2
!CGROW calculations
cgrow, new, 1
cgrow, cid, 1
cgrow, method, xfem
cgrow, fcoption, mtab, 2
!Fatigue related data

CGROW, FCG, METH, LC ! life-cycle method
CGROW, FCG, DAMX, 0.1 ! maximum crack growth increment
CGROW, FCG, SRAT, 0 ! stress-ratio
kbc, 1 ! loads are stepped for fatigue analysis
solve
finish
/post1
! get the # of data sets on the results file
*get, ndatasets, active, 0, set, nset
!define table if *VPLOT is used

*DIM,DN,array,ndatasets,2
*DIM,DA,array,ndatasets,2
*DIM,DK,array,ndatasets,2
*DIM,a_step,array,ndatasets,1
!loop on data sets and store results

set, , , , , , , 1 ! read the data set
*get, pval, CINT,1,CTIP,15910,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,DLTN
DN(1,1) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,1,CTIP,15910,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,DLTA
DA(1,1) = pval
*get, pval, CINT,1,CTIP,15910,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltk
DK(1,1) = pval
*do,i,2,ndatasets
set, , , , , , , i ! read the data set
*get, pval, CINT,1,CTIP,15910,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,DLTN
DN(i,1) = pval + DN(i-1,1)
DA(i,1) = pval + DA(i-1,1)
*get, pval, CINT,1,CTIP,15910,CONTOUR,1,DTYPE,dltk
DK(i,1) = pval
*enddo
!Evaluate the SIFS and DeltaK for the 1st set

set, , , , , , , 1 ! read the data set
a0 = pval
DA(1,2)=a0
a_step(1)=a0
Z=1.12-0.23*((10/79*40)/W)+10.55*((10/79*40)/W)**2
ZZ=-21.72*((10/79*40)/W)**3+30.39*((10/79*40)/W)**4
ZZZ=PRES*SQRT(PI*(10/79*40))
DeltK= ZZZ*(ZZ+Z)
DK(1,2) = DeltK
DeltN = a0/(C*(DeltK**M))
DN(1,2) = DeltN
!Evaluate the SIFS and DeltaK for the subsequent sets

*do,i,2,ndatasets
SET,NEXT
a_step(i) = a_step(i-1) + pval
DA(i,2) = a_step(i)
pval = a_step(i)
Z=1.12-0.23*((a_step(i-1)+10/79*40)/W)+10.55*((a_step(i-1)+10/79*40)/W)**2
ZZ=-21.72*((a_step(i-1)+10/79*40)/W)**3+30.39*((a_step(i-1)+10/79*40)/W)**4
ZZZ=PRES*SQRT(PI*(a_step(i-1)+10/79*40))
DeltK= ZZZ*(ZZ+Z)
DK(i,2) = DeltK
Nst = (pval-a_step(i-1))/(C*(DeltK**M))
DeltN = DEltN + Nst
DN(i,2) = DeltN
*enddo
*DIM,LABEL,array,ndatasets,1
*DIM,DNTab,table,ndatasets,1
*DIM,DATab,table,ndatasets,1
*DIM,DKTab,table,ndatasets,1
*do,i,1,ndatasets
LABEL(i)=i
*VFILL,DNTab(i,1),DATA,DN(i,1)
*VFILL,DATab(i,1),DATA,DA(i,1)
*VFILL,DKTab(i,1),DATA,DK(i,1)
*enddo
!Plot results
!/show,PNG
/view,1,1,1,1
/dscale,,0
!/graphics,power
/AXLAB,Y,Number Of Cycles
/GCOL,1,MAPDL
/GCOL,2,TARGET
*VPLOT,DATab(1,1),DNTab(1,1),2
/AXLAB,Y, DELTA-K
/GCOL,1,MAPDL
/GCOL,2,TARGET
*VPLOT,DATab(1,1),DKTab(1,1),2

/COM,
/COM, DK
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),DA(1,1),DK(1,2),DK(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.8)

/COM,
/COM, DN
/COM,
/COM,
/COM, --------------------
/COM,
*VWRITE,LABEL(1),DA(1,1),DN(1,2),DN(1,1)
(F3.0,' ',F14.8,' ',F14.2,' ',F14.2)
finish
3.7.6. References for Fatigue Crack Growth

A considerable body of literature exists concerning fatigue crack-growth simulations. The references
used here are by no means exhaustive.
1. Paris, P. C., M.P. Gomez, and W.P. Anderson.“TA Rational Analytic Theory of Fatigue.” The Trend in Engineering.
13: 9-14 (1961).
2. Anderson, T. L. Fracture Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications. CRC Press, 2005.
3. Erdogan, F. and G. C. Sih.“On the Crack Extension in Plates under Plane Loading and Transverse Shear.”
ASME Journal of Basic Engineering. 85: 519-527 (1963).
4. Tada, H., P. C. Paris, and G. R. Irwin. The Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Paris Productions,
1985.
I
Index interface
delamination , 83
C elements, 84
C*-integral materials, 85
calculation, 34 meshing, 87
fracture mechanics parameters, 8 results, 88
configurational force (see material force)
crack-growth simulation, 45 J
J-integral
D calculation, 25
debonding, 89 fracture mechanics parameters, 2
delamination, 45
in a contact analysis, 89 M
meshing, 87 material force
results, 88 calculation, 31
fracture mechanics parameters, 5
E
energy-release rate (VCCT) S
calculation, 36 Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Tech-
fracture mechanics parameters, 3 nology (see SMART)
SIFS (see stress-intensity factors)
F SMART
fracture crack-growth simulation, 49
unstructured mesh method (UMM), 43 stress-intensity factors
fracture mechanics calculation, 27
C*-Integral, 8 fracture mechanics parameters, 4
C*-integral, 34
calculating fracture parameters, 12 T
cohesive zone method, 8 T-stress
crack-growth simulation, 8, 45 calculation, 30
crack-tip region modeling, 9 fracture mechanics parameters, 5
debonding, 45
delamination, 45 U
energy-release rate, 3 UMM (see unstructured mesh method)
energy-release rate calculation (VCCT), 36 unstructured mesh method (UMM), 43
fracture modes, 1
Gurson’s model method, 9 V
interface element method, 8 VCCT
introduction to, 1 crack-growth simulation, 66
J-integral, 2, 25 VCCT energy-release rate
material force, 5, 31 calculation, 36
parameters, 2 fracture mechanics parameters, 3
procedure for calculating fracture parameters, 13
reference sources, 19 X
stress-intensity factors, 4, 27
XFEM
T-stress, 5, 30
crack-growth simulation, 93
types of fracture parameter calculations, 23
understanding how problems are solved, 9
VCCT, 36

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Fracture Analysis Guide

ANSYS, Inc. Release 19.1

© 2018 ANSYS, Inc. Unauthorized use, distribution or duplication is prohibited.

U.S. Government Rights

Published in the U.S.A.

2.2.4. Performing the Stress-Intensity Factors Calculation ................................................................. 29

3.2.4. Postprocessing SMART Crack-Growth Analysis Results ............................................................ 57

3.6. XFEM-Based Crack Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation ............................................................... 93

3.7.4. Postprocessing XFEM-Based Fatigue Crack-Growth Analysis Results ...................................... 135

The following topics concerning fracture analysis are available:

1.1. Introduction to Fracture Mechanics

The following additional topics concerning fracture are available:

1.1.1. Understanding Fracture Modes

• Mode I – Opening or tensile mode

• Mode II – Shearing or sliding mode

• Mode III – Tearing or out-of-plane mode

Fracture is generally characterized by a combination of fracture modes.

Figure 1.1: Schematic of the Fracture Modes

1.1.2. Understanding the Fracture Parameters

The following parameters are widely used in fracture mechanics analysis:

For more information, see:

• How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated (p. 12)

• Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13)

• Fracture Parameter Calculation Types (p. 23)

1.1.2.1.1. J-integral as a Stress-Intensity Factor

1.1.2.2. Energy-Release Rate

The energy-release rate is given by:

1.1.2.3. Stress-Intensity Factor

Figure 1.2: Schematic of a Crack Tip

For a Mode I crack, the stress field is given as:

For more information, see T-stress Calculation (p. 30).

1.1.2.5. Material Force

Figure 1.3: Matrix with Inclusion

Figure 1.4: Thought Experiment Proposed by Eshelby

D. Remove the applied surface forces: By removing the surface forces, we

For more information, see Material Force Calculation (p. 31).

1.1.3. Understanding Crack-Growth Simulation

1.1.3.1. SMART Crack-Growth Method

1.1.3.2. VCCT-Based Interface Element Method

1.1.3.3. Cohesive Zone Method

1.1.3.4. Gurson’s Model Method

1.1.3.5. XFEM-Based Method

1.2. Understanding How Fracture Mechanics Problems Are Solved

Figure 1.5: Crack Tip and Crack Front

(a) 2-D models and (b) 3-D models

1.2.1. Modeling the Crack-Tip Region

1.2.1.1. Modeling 2-D Linear Elastic Fracture Problems

Figure 1.6: Radial Mesh Surrounding a 2-D Crack Tip

Figure 1.7: Using Symmetry to Your Advantage

1.2.1.2. Modeling 3-D Linear Elastic Fracture Problems

Figure 1.8: Structured Hexahedral Mesh Around a Semi-elliptical Crack

Figure 1.9: Tetrahedral Mesh for an Arbitrary Crack

1.2.2. How the Fracture Parameters Are Evaluated

For more information, see:

• Procedure for Calculating the Fracture Parameters (p. 13)

1.2.2.1. Methods Used for Calculating the Fracture Parameters

• J-integral (p. 25)

• Stress-intensity factors (SIFs) (p. 27)

• T-stress (p. 30)

• Material force (p. 31)

• C*-integral (p. 34)

• Energy-release rate (p. 36)

1.2.2.2. Domain Integral Method for Calculating the Fracture Parameters