Modeling of fatigue crack closure in inclined and deflected cracks

A 2-dimensional, elastic-plastic finite element model has been developed to simulate plasticity induced crack closure in slanted and deflected cracks growing outside the small scale yielding (SSY) regime. The finite element model allows for contact between deformable surfaces to capture the complex contact interaction between the crack faces. Coulomb's friction law has been used to model friction between the crack faces and has been incorporated in the finite element model. This paper examines the mode I and mode 11 behavior of slanted cracks subjected to remote mode 1, constant amplitude cyclic loading. Two possible types of mode 11 crack face interaction have been identified: (a) complete slip in mode 11 before mode I opening and, (b) mode I crack opening before the crack faces undergo mode 11 displacements. Both types of interactions were observed in slanted cracks. The finite element study also reveals a clear dependence of mode I and mode 11 crack opening levels for a slanted crack on R ratio and maximum stress, S_max/σ ₀. The crack opening levels for a slanted crack are found to be significantly higher than the stable opening values for a straight crack growing in pure mode 1. The mode I and mode 11 crack opening levels are also found to depend on the friction between the crack faces. A four-fold increase in friction coefficient resulted in almost 50% increase in normalized mode I and mode 11 opening values. This paper also describes the effect of crack deflection on closure. Deflection of a fatigue crack from 45° inclination to pure mode I caused a decrease in mode I opening level, but, an increase in mode 11 opening level. This difference in opening behavior is attributed to the transition of the nature of crack interaction from 'complete slip before opening' to 'opening in mode I before mode 11 shear offset'. Final stable opening levels for a deflected crack are found to be close to the stable value for straight cracks.