Abstract
ABSTRACTA predictor–corrector scheme is presented to improve the shape of 3D crack fronts within the 3D simulation of fatigue crack growth. This concept is fully functional for mode‐I, and an extension for mixed‐mode problems is presented. The whole procedure is embedded in an automatic incremental crack growth algorithm for arbitrary 3D problems with linear elastic material behaviour. The numerical simulation is based on the 3D dual boundary element method (Dual BEM) and on an optimized evaluation of very accurate stress intensity factors (SIFs) and T‐stresses. As part of the proposed predictor–corrector scheme, 3D singularities along the crack front especially in the vicinity of the intersection of the crack front and the boundary are considered. The knowledge of these singularities allows the specification of crack front shapes with bounded energy release rate. Numerical examples with complex cross‐sections are presented to show the efficiency of the proposed crack growth algorithm. The obtained results are in good agreement with recent experimental results.
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