Predicting the Initial Crack Length in a Solid Propellant
Abstract
In this study, a micro-macromechanical approach was used to predict the initial crack length near the edge of the hole in solid propellant specimens. The approach was based on a simplified micromechanical model, damage mechanics at the micro-level, and finite element analysis at the macro-level. Both micromechanical and macromechanical analyses were conducted in tandem. The developed technique together with a mechanistic criterion was used to predict the initial crack length in high stress regions. The criterion was based on the instability of the damaged material just ahead of the crack tip. The initial crack length is equal to the length of unstable material zone when the damage at the crack tip element is saturated. Based on the definition of the initial crack length and the micro-macromechanical approach, the initial crack lengths in the high stress regions were predicted. The predicted initial crack lengths and the experimentally measured values were compared and the results were discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA408146
Entities
People
- C.t. Liu
- T. L. Hendrickson
- Y. W. Kwon
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory