Author(s)

K-Y. Lee, J. D. Lee & H. Liebowitz

Abstract

A nonlinear finite element analysis, based on the incremental theory of plastic- ity with isotropic hardening rule, has been performed for the process of slow crack growth in center-cracked specimens made of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy. With experimental data relating the applied stress and the crack size taken as input, it is found that the plastic energy and the crack size are linearly related during the entire process of slow crack growth. Moreover, the linear relation between the plastic energy and the crack size, replacing the experimental ap- plied stress vs. crack size curve, may also be taken as the input and generate a crack resistance curve which is in excellent agreement with the experimental re- sult. This

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