Abstract
Abstract— A numerical study of the influence of crack surface roughness on fatigue crack closure is presented. Calculations are performed with a research oriented finite difference code suitably modified to study fatigue crack propagation and closure. A powerful algorithm of contact detection is used to ascertain the interaction between the crack surfaces and a penalty forces method is employed to avoid node‐to‐node and node‐to‐face penetration. The results indicate that the key controlling factor of roughness‐induced fatigue crack closure is the tilt angle between crack branches and the average direction of crack propagation. Crack opening and closure loads increase with the tilt angle, and when plasticity effects are negligible, they are not affected by the crack branch length. Numerical results are also able to explain the large closure levels measured experimentally in 2124 Al alloy fatigue cracks.
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