INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD - 382481, 8-10 DECEMBER , 2011 1

Software Development for Crack Analysis of a

Central Cracked Plate under Tension for
Determination of SIF
Prof. Darshita J Shah (APME, IT, NU), Prof. Dhaval B Shah (APME, IT, NU)

where, is applied stress and r, are polar

coordinates of a stressed region near the crack tip.
Abstract-- The stress intensity factor (SIF) is a measure
of the severity of a crack in an elastic solid and is closely
related to the stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip.
There is a direct relationship between the SIF and the
energy release rate which governs the criticality of a
crack. Here in the present case a central cracked plate
subjected to tensile loading condition is considered and
software is developed for finding its Stress Intensity
Factor. Results of which are compared with Finite
Element Analysis using ANSYS Software.
Key words-- Stress Intensity factor, Linear Elastic
Fracture Mechanics (LEFM), Plastic zone, FEA
This implies that a yielded region will exist in the
material ahead of the crack for all reasonable stress
values.  The shape and size of the plastic zone can be
determined, to a first order, from the simple models.
Consider a material with a simple elastic-perfectly
plastic response (i.e. no strain hardening occurs).  A
first estimate of the plastic zone size ahead of the
crack tip (Rp), along the plane of the crack, can be
obtained by substituting the yield strength into the
above equation as in figure 1. [5]

I. INTRODUCTION

S tress Intensity Factor, KI =σ(πa)1/2. KI is a means

of characterising the elastic stress distribution near
the crack tip. Units of KI are MN/m-3/2 or MPa.m 1/2. [2]
Basis of the LEFM design approach is, all materials
contain flaws or cracks. The stress intensity factor, KI
may be calculated for the particular loading and crack
configuration. Failure is predicted if the calculated
value of KI exceeds the critical value, KIc, for the
material .Critical value of KI is referred to as the
Fracture Toughness (KIc). For a central crack in an
infinite plate, KI is usually expressed in a general form
K = f(β)σ (πa)1/2.Where f(β) is a factor depends on the
geometry of a cracked plate.
Figure 1: Plastic Zone
II. EFFECT OF CRACK TIP PLASTICY ON SIF
The plastic zone size is obtained as:
All brittle fractures are accompanied by some extent
of plastic deformation. Plastic deformation will occur
in regions near the crack tip where the stresses exceed
the yield stress. [4] This plastic deformation results in
relaxation of stresses in the plastic zone. Assume
plasticity is contained in front of the crack tip stresses The presence of significant crack tip plasticity caused
the specimen to behave as though it contained a crack
and displacements in crack tip region are controlled by of greater length than was actually the case.  That is,
KI the controlled zone surrounding the crack. The the compliance of the specimen became greater as
crack tip plastic zones and the plasticity correction to plasticity developed at the crack tip.  This
crack length based on the elastic stress observation led to propose a 'plastic zone correction'
to crack length, based on a more accurate model of
crack tip plastic zone size. A more accurate estimate
of a plastic zone size, by taking the necessary re-
 2 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CURRENT TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY, ‘NUiCONE – 2011’
distribution of crack tip stresses (which accompanies
yielding) into consideration. This leads to a larger
plastic zone size as well correction in stresses
intensity factor and effective crack length as
indicated in the figure 2. [5]
Figure 2: Effective Crack Length and Plastic Zone
Areas B and C are equal and the effective crack
length is Aeff.   A simple analysis indicates that r p =
2Rp with Aeff = a + Rp.  Thus Irwin proposed that R p
represents a plasticity correction to crack length
which should be applied when crack tip plasticity is
relatively extensive, e.g. under plane strain
conditions.  Under such cases the stress intensity
factor is corrected iteratively through taking account
of the effective crack length. The procedure first
calculates K using the actual crack length, then finds
Rp using this value of K.  Aeff is then found and the K
value re-calculated. This iteration can be continued
further if necessary. [7]
Plasticity is important in fracture mechanics, as the
extent of plasticity, relative to specimen dimensions
and crack size, determines the state of stress (plane
strain or plane stress) and whether LEFM is
applicable or not.  In turn, stress state affects the
direction of planes of maximum shear stress and
hence the fracture plane.  Thus fracture proceeds
perpendicularly to the maximum principal stress in
plane strain, and at 45 º to this direction in plane
stress. As a general rule, the stress state approaches
plane strain when the plastic zone is about 1/16 of the
crack length and material thickness. [6]
III. EFFECT OF PLATE THICKNESS
Plane
Whether stress
it is plane stress condition or plain strain
condition depends on plate thickness. After conducting
large number of experiments for specimens of
Critical SIF
different thickness toTransitional
determine critical stress
Planeintensity
factor the variation of critical SIF versus Strain plate
thickness is as shown in figure 3. [2]
KIC
Plate Thickness
Figure 3: Variation of Critical SIF with Plate
Thickness
In plane strain region critical SIF is constant and
independent of plate thickness. So, it can be
considered to be a material property. In the vicinity of
the crack tip, both the free surfaces of the plate move
in forming depression showing to in-plane tensile
stress and Poison’s effects. On the contrary the
material in a thick plate is constrained giving rise to
tensile stress.
There must be limit on plate thickness under which a
material is able to flow easily and plate is deformed
under plane stress. Similarly there must be a limit on
plate thickness over which the material is taken to be
deformed under plane strain. Between upper and
lower limit on plate thickness, the cases are known to
have transitional behavior; that is near both the free
surfaces the materials flows easily and deformed in
plane stress and , in the interior, the material is
constrained and is subjected to plane strain. [8]
Typical nature of critical SIF dependence on the
thickness is shown in fig.1For B ≥ 2.5(K IC/ σYS)2,
critical SIF remains constant and then we can regard
the critical stress intensity factor as the material
property. Value of KIC of commonly used materials
are available.
For B < 2.5(KIC/ σYS)2, critical stress intensity factor
depends on the thickness B. The relation between
critical SIF and thickness may be regarded as a
behavior of material and be provided.
IV. STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR
CALCULATION
The stress intensity factor (SIF) [1] is a measure of
the severity of a crack in an elastic solid and is
closely related to the stress field in the vicinity of the
crack tip. There is a direct relationship between the
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD - 382481, 8-10 DECEMBER , 2011
SIF and the energy release rate which governs the
criticality of a crack. Since the range of SIF during a
fatigue loading cycle governs the crack growth rate,
knowledge of the SIF for a given crack geometry is
essential in any fatigue crack growth computation.
Preprocessing is performed after entry of geometric
dimensions to derive a two dimensional table for a
specific problem.
Figure 4: Crack Plate under Tension
Figure 5: Material Considerations
Figure 6: Results of Stress Intensity Factor
Computations results in stress intensity factor at crack
tip procedure for getting it through software is as
follows: [1]
 Select Residual strength as a
function of crack size. σ =f(a).
 Minimum detectable crack size by
NDT is a.
3
 The dimensions of component and
crack size present are inputs.
 Material considerations are
specified or selected through the library available
with the software.
 Plastic zone corrections are checked
and LEFM can be applied or not is to be found.
 KIC= f(β) σ √πa where β
=a/W ,W=width
 For plane stress conditions to reach
B ≥ 2.5
(KIC /σys )2
 Compute critical SIF.
V. STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR USING FEA
Crack analysis of a central cracked plate under
tension for determination of SIF using FEA approach
ANSYS software is used. For analysis purpose
assumptions like linear elastic fracture mechanics
(LEFM) and plane strain conditions can be taken.
Due to symmetry of the problem, only a quarter
model is analyzed. The crack-tip region is meshed
using quarter-point (singular) 8-node quadrilateral
elements (PLANE82).
Linear elastic isotropic material having young’s
modulus E = 200 GPa and poison’s ratio = 0.3 is
selected for the model. In meshing process, near to
crack region fine mesh is applied to get more
accurate results. The meshed geometry is as shown in
figure.7
Figure 7: Fine Meshing at crack tip
4 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CURRENT TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY, ‘NUiCONE – 2011’
Figure 8: Results of SIF using ANSYS
After meshing, symmetry boundary condition
due to quarter model and external pressure at one
side is applied. In solution stage model is solved
for static structural analysis. The value of stress
intensity factor KI of mode-I and von-Mises
stress is shown in figure 8.
Figure 9: Stress at crack tip
Figure10: Enlarged view of stress at crack tip
VI. YIELDING CHECKS
 Stress exerted in the component should not
be greater then yield Strength of the material. Also
to be on safer side factor of safety should be kept 2-
3.
 At the designing stage software gives the
checking weather the induced stress is greater then
yield. It will indicate the severity of the case and
message will be displayed.
 Plane strain conditions and plastic zone
criteria are required to be fulfilled or not is checked
.i.e Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics is applied or
not.
 Also similar check is available for stress
intensity factor. This displayed the message if
induced stresses intensity value exceeds critical
stress intensity factor value.
VII. HOW TO RUN SOFTWARE
Step1: To compute stress intensity factors, choose
the relevant option from the main menu.
Step 2: Form the file menu select New Project. This
enables the all buttons in the software.
Also select the Elasticity type, Pressure type,
& Calculation mode from the options menu.
Step3: Select the Geometry of cracked component
from the library available. When you select
the option for Geometry, the GUI can be
used to input geometry and dimensions of
the crack case to be used. Select the desired
option for crack location internal or and
external and enter pressure & Stresses.
Step 4: Select material from the library or user can
enter the new choice for the material and
enter the material’s yield strength as well as
Fracture Toughness of the newly entered
material.
Step 5: To get Output push run button will give the
Output of the critical crack size of the
component and also the printable format of
the output is displayed on the screen.
VIII. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Crack analysis of Central cracked plate subjected
to uniform tensile load is carried out using
fundamentals of Linear Elastic Fracture
Mechanics.
This is accomplished by preparing a software in
Visual Basic and results of which are compared
with Finite Element Analysis.
Result gives us analytical solution for the Stress
Intensity Factor for the case considered is 28.66
MPam1/2. This result is compared with FEA tool
ANSYS which is 26.4 MPam1/2.. The % error
comes out to be 1.085%.
IX. REFERENCES
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NIRMA UNIVERSITY, AHMEDABAD - 382481, 8-10 DECEMBER , 2011 5

[1] D.R.Patwari, Prof: A.B.Patel “Development

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Elastic Fracture Mechanics & Fatigue Crack
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External Pressures” M.Tech
Dissertation ,NU ,May 2006.
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[3] Yanyao Jiang ,Miaolin Feng . “Modeling of
Fatigue Crack Propagation” Reno, NV
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[6] M.Perl, A. Nachum. “3-D stress Intensity
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Negev. Israel. January 2001.
[7] Kamran Nlkbln “comparison between crack
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[8] Guofeng Chen, Sharif Rahman,Young ho
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