Crack Propagation in a Gun Barrel Due to the Firing Thermo-Mechanical Stresses

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Petitpas ◽  
B. Campion

The thermo-mechanical effects of firing induce very considerable stresses on the internal surface of the gun barrels. Consequently, micro-cracks appear very soon in the life of the tube. So it is important to control the propagation of these cracks. For more than 10 years, modeling has been used by Giat-Industries to understand and to control this phenomenon. This paper focuses on the study of short crack propagation kinetics during firings. Two-dimensional modeling taking into consideration the residual stresses from a hydraulic autofrettage and the thermo-mechanical stresses due to the successive firings is presented. The cyclic plastic behavior of the material is taken into consideration. This makes it possible to observe the effect of loss of the residual stresses at the surface due to the firings. Cracks of increasing length are introduced in the model to calculate the stress intensity factor. An innovative point is the modeling of the contact between the crack lips in order to take into account the effect of crack closing during cooling. Indeed the effective stress intensity factor range is calculated using this model for numerous crack lengths. A classic Paris law is then used to predict the crack propagation kinetics. Sensitivity analysis has been carried out using this model; in particular, the effect of autofrettage on crack propagation is analyzed as well as the effect of the use of lower-strength steels.

2005 ◽  
Vol 297-300 ◽  
pp. 743-749
Author(s):  
Min Koo Han ◽  
Mamidala Ramulu

Fatigue crack propagation life of weld toe crack through residual stress field was estimated using Elber's crack closure concept. Propagation of weld toe crack is heavily influenced by residual stresses caused by the welding process, so it is essential to take into account the effect of residual stresses on the propagation life of a weld toe crack. Fatigue cracks at transverse and longitudinal weld toe was studied, these two cases represent the typical weld joints in ship structures. Numerical and experimental studies are performed for both cases. Residual stresses near the welding area were estimated through a nonlinear thermo-elasto-plastic finite element method and the residual stress intensity factor with Glinka's weight function method. Effective stress intensity factor was calculated using the Newman-Forman-de Koning-Henriksen equation, which is based on the Dugdale strip yield model in estimating the crack closure level, U, at different stress ratios. Calculated crack propagation life coincided well with experimental results.


1967 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Forman ◽  
V. E. Kearney ◽  
R. M. Engle

An improved theory is proposed for the crack-growth analysis of cyclic-loaded structures. The theory assumes that the crack tip stress-intensity-factor range, ΔK, is the controlling variable for analyzing crack-extension rates. The new theory, however, takes into account the load ratio, R, and the instability when the stress-intensity factor approaches the fracture toughness of the material, Kc. Excellent correlation is found between the theory and extensive experimental data. A computer program has been developed using the new theory to analyze the crack propagation and time to failure for cyclic-loaded structures.


Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 977
Author(s):  
Sanjin Krscanski ◽  
Josip Brnic

This paper considers the applicability of virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) for calculation of stress intensity factor range for crack propagation in standard metal specimen geometries with sharp through thickness cracks. To determine crack propagation rate and fatigue lifetime of a dynamically loaded metallic specimen, in addition to VCCT, standard Forman model was used. Values of stress intensity factor (SIF) ranges ΔK for various crack lengths were calculated by VCCT and used in conjunction with material parameters available from several research papers. VCCT was chosen as a method of choice for the calculation of stress intensity factor of a crack as it is simple and relatively straightforward to implement. It is relatively easy for implementation on top of any finite element (FE) code and it does not require the use of any special finite elements. It is usually utilized for fracture analysis of brittle materials when plastic dissipation is negligible, i.e., plastic dissipation belongs to small-scale yielding due to low load on a structural element. Obtained results showed that the application of VCCT yields good results. Results for crack propagation rate and total lifetime for three test cases were compared to available experimental data and showed satisfactory correlation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Erdogan

The problem of slow crack growth under residual stresses and externally applied loads in plates is considered. Even though the technique developed to treat the problem is quite general, in the solution given it is assumed that the plate contains a surface crack and the residual stresses are compressive near and at the surfaces and tensile in the interior. The crack would start growing subcritically when the stress intensity factor exceeds a threshold value. Initially the crack faces near the plate surface would remain closed. A crack-contact problem would, therefore, have to be solved to calculate the stress intensity factor. Depending on the relative magnitudes of the residual and applied stresses and the threshold and critical stress intensity factors, the subcritically growing crack would either be arrested or become unstable. The problem is solved and examples showing the time to crack arrest or failure are discussed.


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