Mechanical APDL Structural Analysis Guide

return

end

12.1.4. Example Crack Growth Simulation

This example uses a double-cantilever beam with an edge crack at one end. Equal displacements with
opposite directions are applied to the end of the beam about and below the crack in order to open up
the crack, as shown in this figure:

Figure 12.4: Crack Growth of a Double-Cantilever Beam

L = 100 mm, h = 3 mm

ao = 30 mm, w = 20 mm

E 11 = 135.3 GPa, E 22 = E 33 = 9

GPa

G 12 = 5.2 GPa

ν 12 = ν 13 = 0.24, ν 23 = 0.46

I

C

= 0.28 N/mm, 

= 0.8

N/mm

The following figure shows the finite element mesh:

Figure 12.5: Double-Cantilever Beam Mesh

PLANE182 with the enhanced strain option (KEYOPT(1) = 2) is used to model the solid part of the
model.INTER202 is used to model the crack path. A plane strain condition is assumed. In the vertical
direction, the model uses 6 elements, and in the horizontal direction are 200 elements.

The following figure shows the predicted load-deflection curve:

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VCCT-Based Crack Growth Simulation