Stress singularities in classical elasticity–I: Removal, interpretation, and analysis

2004 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
GB Sinclair

This review article has two parts, published in separate issues of this journal, which consider the stress singularities that occur in linear elastostatics. In the present Part I, after a brief review of the singularities that attend concentrated loads, attention is focused on the singularities that occur away from such loading, and primarily on 2D configurations. A number of examples of these singularities are given in the Introduction. For all of these examples, it is absolutely essential that the presence of singularities at least be recognized if the stress fields are to be used in attempts to ensure structural integrity. Given an appreciation of a stress singularity’s occurrence, there are two options open to the stress analyst if the stress analysis is to actually be used. First, to try and improve the modeling so that the singularity is removed and physically sensible stresses result. Second, to try and interpret singularities that persist in a physically meaningful way. Section 2 of the paper reviews avenues available for the removal of stress singularities. At this time, further research is needed to effect the removal of all singularities. Section 3 of the paper reviews possible interpretations of singularities. At this time, interpretations using the singularity coefficient, or stress intensity factor, would appear to be the best available. To implement an approach using stress intensity factors in a general context, two types of companion analysis are usually required: analytical asymptotics to characterize local singular fields; and numerical analysis to capture participation in global configurations. Section 4 of the paper reviews both types of analysis. At this time, methods for both are fairly well developed. Studies in the literature which actually effect asymptotic analyses of specific singular configurations will be considered in Part II of this review article. The present Part I has 182 references.

Author(s):  
P. John Bouchard

The influence of the residual stress field in a welded structure on crack growth and fracture is commonly assessed through its contribution to the stress intensity factor (SIF) for the crack of interest. This contribution is most often calculated by assuming a bounding through-thickness residual stress profile for the specific type of weldment with an appropriate SIF solution for the crack location, shape and structure of concern. Although more realistic residual stress profiles for stainless steel pipe girth welds have been developed recently their use, in some cases, leads to an underestimate of the SIF. A new approach is developed for determining bounding SIF values for cracks in residual stress fields of stainless steel pipe girth welds. The forms of the proposed SIF profiles are based on recently published SIF solutions for cracks in periodic residual stress fields [1]. It is shown that the SIF profiles bound those based on a large database of residual stress measurements without being excessively conservative. The outcome is a simple new method for defining more realistic SIF profiles for use in structural integrity assessments of stainless steel pipe girth welds.


Author(s):  
Ramesh Talreja

Structural integrity of composite materials is governed by failure mechanisms that initiate at the scale of the microstructure. The local stress fields evolve with the progression of the failure mechanisms. Within the full span from initiation to criticality of the failure mechanisms, the governing length scales in a fibre-reinforced composite change from the fibre size to the characteristic fibre-architecture sizes, and eventually to a structural size, depending on the composite configuration and structural geometry as well as the imposed loading environment. Thus, a physical modelling of failure in composites must necessarily be of multi-scale nature, although not always with the same hierarchy for each failure mode. With this background, the paper examines the currently available main composite failure theories to assess their ability to capture the essential features of failure. A case is made for an alternative in the form of physical modelling and its skeleton is constructed based on physical observations and systematic analysis of the basic failure modes and associated stress fields and energy balances. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Multiscale modelling of the structural integrity of composite materials’.


1977 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Bloom ◽  
W. A. Van Der Sluys

This paper evaluates eight different analytical procedures used in determining elastic stress intensity factors for gradient or nonlinear stress fields. From a fracture viewpoint, the main interest in this problem comes from the nuclear industry where the safety of the nuclear system is of concern. A fracture mechanics analysis is then required to demonstrate the vessel integrity under these postulated accident conditions. The geometry chosen for his study is that of a 10-in. thick flawed plate with nonuniform stress distribution through the thickness. Two loading conditions are evaluated, both nonlinear and both defined by polynomials. The assumed cracks are infinitely long surface defects. Eight methods are used to find the stress intensity factor: 1–maximum stress, 2–linear envelope, 3–linearization over the crack length from ASME Code, Section XI, 4–equivalent linear moment from ASME Code, Section III, Appendix G for thermal loadings, 5–integration method from WRC 175, Appendix 4 for thermal loadings, 6–8-node singularity (quarter-point) isoparametric element in conjunction with the displacement method, 7–polynomial method, and 8–semi-infinite edge crack linear distribution over crack. Comparisons are made between all eight procedures with the finding that the methods can be ranked in order of decreasing conservatism and ease of application as follows: 1–maximum stress, 2–linear envelope, 3–linearization over the crack length, 4–polynomial method, and 5–singularity element method. Good agreement is found between the last three of these methods. The remaining three methods produce nonconservative results.


Author(s):  
N. A. Leggatt ◽  
R. J. Dennis ◽  
P. J. Bouchard ◽  
M. C. Smith

Numerical methods have been established to simulate welding processes. Of particular interest is the ability to predict residual stress fields. These fields are often used in support of structural integrity assessments where they have the potential, when accurately characterised, to offer significantly less conservative predictions of residual profiles compared to those found in assessment codes such as API 579, BS7910 and R6. However, accurate predictions of residual stress profiles that compare favourably with measurements do not necessarily suggest an accurate prediction of component distortions. This paper presents a series of results that compare predicted distortions for a variety of specimen mock-ups with measurements. A range of specimen thicknesses will be studied including, a 4mm thick DH-36 ferritic plate containing a single bead, a 4mm thick DH-36 ferritic plate containing fillet welds, a 25mm thick 316L austenitic plate containing a groove weld and a 35mm thick esshete 1250 austenitic disc containing a concentric ring weld. For each component, distortion measurements have been compared with the predicted distortions with a number of key features being investigated. These include the influence of ‘small’ vs ‘large’ strain deformation theory, the ability to predict distortions using simplified analysis methods such as simultaneous bead deposition and the influence of specimen thickness on the requirement for particular analysis features. The work provides an extremely useful insight into how existing numerical methods used to predict residual stress fields can be utilised to predict the distortions that occur as a result of the welding fabrication process.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Nitish Kumar ◽  
Syed Nizamuddin Khaderi

Abstract We investigate the mechanics of the detachment of an inclined micro-pillar adhered to a dissimilar substrate when subjected to a combination of an axial load and end moment. When the micro-pillar has adhered to the substrate, singular stress fields exist at the bi-material corners. The order of singularity is estimated using asymptotic analysis. The first two terms in the asymptotic expansion lead to singular stress fields. The magnitude of the singularity is evaluated in terms of the elastic mismatch between the pillar and substrate and the micro-pillar inclination. The asymptotic stress due to the moment loading is more sensitive to the micro-pillar inclination when compared to that due to the axial loading. They are insensitive to the micro-pillar inclination when the micro-pillar is rigid when compared to the substrate. A short interfacial crack is further assumed to exist at the bi-material corner. This crack is embedded in the corner singularity region and is loaded by the singular fields due to axial and bending loads. A boundary layer analysis is performed on the singular zone to estimate the stress intensity factor when a short crack embedded in it is subjected to the singular fields. The stress intensity factors are also calculated for a long interfacial crack at the bi-material corner, which extends beyond the singular zone. Using the above results, we investigate the detachment of the inclined micro-pillar under the combination of an axial load and end moment.


1997 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Aliabadi

This article reviews advances in the application of boundary element methods (BEM) to fracture mechanics which have taken place over the last 25 years. Applications discussed include linear, nonlinear and transient problems. Also reviewed are contributions using the indirect boundary element formulations. Over this period the method has emerged as the most efficient technique for the evaluation of stress intensity factors (SIF) and crack growth analysis in the context of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). Much has also been achieved in the application to dynamic fracture mechanics. This review article contains 289 references.


Author(s):  
Kiminobu Hojo ◽  
Naoki Ogawa ◽  
Yoichi Iwamoto ◽  
Kazutoshi Ohoto ◽  
Seiji Asada ◽  
...  

A reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head of PWR has penetration holes for the CRDM nozzles, which are connected with the vessel head by J-shaped welds. It is well-known that there is high residual stress field in vicinity of the J-shaped weld and this has potentiality of PWSCC degradation. For assuring stress integrity of welding part of the penetration nozzle of the RPV, it is necessary to evaluate precise residual stress and stress intensity factor based on the stress field. To calculate stress intensity factor K, the most acceptable procedure is numerical analysis, but the penetration nozzle is very complex structure and such a direct procedure takes a lot of time. This paper describes applicability of simplified K calculation method from handbooks by comparing with K values from finite element analysis, especially mentioning crack modeling. According to the verified K values in this paper, fatigue crack extension analysis and brittle fracture evaluation by operation load were performed for initial crack due to PWSCC and finally structural integrity of the penetration nozzle of RPV head was confirmed.


Author(s):  
Sang-Min Lee ◽  
Jeong-Soon Park ◽  
Jin-Su Kim ◽  
Young-Hwan Choi ◽  
Hae-Dong Chung

Elastic-plastic fracture mechanics as well as linear-elastic fracture mechanics may be applied to evaluate a flaw in ferritic low alloy steel components for operating conditions when the material fracture resistance is controlled by upper shelf toughness behavior. In this paper, the distribution of the stress intensity factor along a corner crack using elastic-plastic fracture mechanics technique is investigated to assess the effect of a structural factor on mechanical loads in pressurizer vent nozzle penetration weld. For this purpose, the stress intensity factor and plastic zone correction of a corner crack are calculated under internal pressure, thermal stress and residual stress in accordance with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) equation and Irwin’s approach, respectively. The resulting stress intensity factor and plastic zone correction were compared with those obtained from Structural Integrity Associates (SIA) and Kinectrics, and were observed to be good agreement with Kinectrics results.


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