The 3-day class will familiarize students with the design and operation of the AFGROW crack growth life analysis program. This will include a review of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) concepts, example problems, and new capabilities/features in the current release (Version 5.3), including: the ability to use different crack growth rate data for different crack growth directions and as a function of the applied loading spectrum, and our new spectrum management tool.
The class will also provide an introduction to the use of advanced features unique to AFGROW (COM automation, Advanced Multiple Crack Solutions, and Plug-In K-Solutions).
More Information
Section 7.4.1.0. Structural Parameter Verification Techniques
The
current analytical procedures for developing the stress-intensity factor (K)
associated with two-dimensional structural geometries have been extensively
verified. The verification of the tools
required to solve three-dimensional structural geometry problems, however, is
still receiving major attention. This
subsection reviews the experimental techniques utilized to verify the
analytical procedures for obtaining stress-intensity factors for two- and three-dimensional
geometries.
For
the two-dimensional crack geometries, the engineer has the opportunity to
employ four different types of experimental tests to verify the
stress-intensity factor solution for the given problem: compliance (displacement/load) measurements
[Bubsey, et al., 1973], moiré fringe techniques [Kiu & Ke, 1975],
photoelastic procedures [Kobayashi, 1973], and crack growth rate testing [James
& Anderson, 1969]. In the realm of
the three-dimensional problem, only two of the above tests can be relied
upon: photoelastic procedures [Smith,
1975], and crack growth rate testing [Grandt & Sinclair, 1972; Grandt &
Hinnerichs, 1974].