Some applications of the finite element method to nonlinear fracture mechanics (Q793573)

In this study, a finite element method for analyzing the three- dimensional fully plastic solutions is developed, where a selective reduced integration/penalty function (SRI/PF) method is utilized for the treatment of the material incompressibility. After giving the outline of the solution method and demonstrating the accuracy of the present method through the calculations of the simple two-dimensional examples, the solutions for cylinders with a circumferential through-wall crack subjected to remote uniform tension are calculated for several values of the crack angle and the hardening exponent. Next, the solutions for a plate with a semi-elliptical surface crack under tension are analyzed. Finally, the solutions are applied to the stably growing crack in a Type 304 stainless steel pipe under tension.