Abstract
The interaction and coalescence of multiple cracks may significantly affect the designed lives of aging pressure vessel structures. Knowledge of the growth behavior of interacting cracks is still limited. In this paper, a novel sub-modeling meshing algorithm is used in three-dimensional linear finite element analysis to investigate the interaction between two identical, non-coplanar, semi-elliptical cracks. One of these cracks is modeled as a surface crack while the other is modeled as an embedded crack under a weld toe. Both interacting cracks are assumed to be in an infinite plate subjected to a remote tension loading condition. The energy release rates (G) and the Stress Intensity Factors (SIF’s) for these cracks are calculated along the interacting crack-front. And, a parametric study involving the variation of the relative horizontal separation distance between the two interacting cracks is carried out for a specific crack depth to plate thickness ratio, a/t, of 0.2. The crack shape aspect ratio, a/c, is also varied in this study within a range that extend between 1.0 and 0.33. An empirical formula is derived that relates the effects of the relative positions of these cracks to their SIFs.
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