Developments in remeshing-free fatigue crack growth simulation including a new adaptive virtual crack closure technique

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate and improve the remeshing-free fatigue crack growth (FCG) simulation and life estimation through two developing FEM-VCCT and XFEMPN-VCCT algorithms in Abaqus. First, new energy-based forms of the Paris, Walker, and Elber FCG models are implemented by a user subroutine, a novel systematic meshing strategy is proposed, and some challenging features of these algorithms are investigated. Despite the success of this methodology in enhancing efficiency, decreasing the run-time, and preventing potential errors, it is observed that the XFEMPN-VCCT algorithm has some fundamental errors such as a serious overestimation in FCG life prediction. Thus, a novel “adaptive VCCT” is introduced and implemented by a Python script in Abaqus in the form of a new XFEMPN-AVCCT algorithm. It is finally concluded that the adaptive VCCT can significantly enhance the accuracy of FCG simulation and life estimation. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.