Modelling of Stable Tearing in Aircraft Structures

Abstract

This report summarises the cooperative research program on stable tearing between DSTO and CEAT. The main objective was to study the conditions under which aircraft materials fracture by stable tearing and to develop a predictive capability for the process under operational conditions. The experiments on both CCT and CT specimens were to assist in validation of numerical modelling. Tear bands were successfully reproduced on CCT specimens with different specimen thickness by experiments at CEAT. The results were used to assess empirical models - Schijve's and Forsyth's models, and R-curve methods as well. Stable tearing feature was successfully simulated by a commercial finite element package ZENCRACK. Due to lack of local failure criteria, ZENCRACK cannot be used to predict whether stable tearing would occur or arrest under cyclic loading. But it appears to be useful for modeling such phenomena for indicative purpose only. A new 3D numerical model was proposed using a cohesive zone approach. This model can predict features similar to stable tearing and agrees well with the published experimental data. However, more research work needs to be done.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA433497

Entities

People

  • A. Lahousse
  • G. Clark
  • P. Hamel
  • P. K. Sharp
  • Qingcao Liu
  • Wenyi Hu

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Engineering
  • Experimental Data
  • Fatigue Tests (Mechanics)
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Fracture (Mechanics)
  • Geometry
  • J Integrals
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Predictive Modeling
  • Resistance
  • Stress Intensity Factors
  • Three Dimensional

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).