SEDL / STP / STP1296-EB / STP16230S

Prediction of Stable Tearing and Fracture of a 2000-Series Aluminum Alloy Plate Using a CTOA Criterion

Dawicke, DS
AS & M, Inc., Hampton, VA

Piascik, RS
NASA LaRC, Hampton, VA

Newman, JC
NASA LaRC, Hampton, VA

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1997

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Abstract

Accurate predictions of stable tearing in a 7.6-mm-thick 2000-series aluminum alloy were made using the critical crack-tip opening angle (CTOA) criterion. The predictions were verified through a comparison of experimental and analytical results. A two-dimensional, elastic-plastic finite element analysis was used to simulate the fracture behavior of a 102-mm-wide C(T) specimen. The analysis determined that a critical crack-tip opening angle (Ψ^c = 5°) resulted in good correlation with the experimental load against crack opening displacement data. This angle was compared to surface and microtopography CTOA measurements. The angle obtained from the finite element simulation was used to predict the fracture behavior of tests conducted on 102-mm-wide M(T), 305-mm-wide M(T), and 152-mm-wide C(T) specimens. The two-dimensional, elastic-plastic finite element analysis predicted the maximum loads of the 102-mm-wide M(T), 305-mm-wide M(T), and 152-mm-wide C(T) within 3, 4, and 8% of the experimental results, respectively.