An Analysis of the Fatigue Crack Opening Behaviour in the Welding Residual Stress Field by the Finite Element Method

Park, Eung-Joon; Kim, Eung-Joon; Yoo, Seung-Hyun

JWJ > Volume 21(6); 2003 > Article

Journal of KWJS 2003 October;21(6) :77-83.
Published online October 27, 2003.

An Analysis of the Fatigue Crack Opening Behaviour in the Welding Residual Stress Field by the Finite Element Method

Eung-Joon Park, Eung-Joon Kim, Seung-Hyun Yoo

Correspondence: Published online October 27, 2003

ABSTRACT

The finite element analysis was performed for the cracks existing in residual stress fields in order to investigate the effects of configuration of residual stress distribution to the fatigue crack opening behaviour. And the variation of stress distributions adjacent to the crack caused by uploading was examined. The finite element model with contact elements for the crack plane and plane stress elements for the base material and the analytical method based on the superposition principle to estimate crack opening behaviour and the stress distribution adjacent to the crack subjected to uploading were used. The results of the analysis showed that crack opening behaviours and variations of stress distribution caused by uploading were changed depending on the configuration of residual stress distribution. When the crack existed in the region of compressive residual stress and the configuration of compressive residual stress distribution were inclined, a partial crack opening just behind of a crack tip occurred during uploading. Based on the above results, it was clarified that the crack opening behaviour in the residual stress field could be predicted accurately by the finite element analysis using these analytical method and model.