Parametric investigation into the coalescence of coplanar fatigue cracks

This investigation presents a parametric study of the coalescence of coplanar fatigue cracks. The finite element method was used to simulate the coalescence of two fatigue cracks to form a larger dominant crack. Two hundred and forty four models, each with unique crack shapes and stages of coalescence were analyzed under both pure bending and tension loads. It was determined that the aspect ratio and the coalescence depth of the two adjoining cracks had the greatest effect on the stress intensity factor while increasing the crack depth only resulted in a slight increase. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.