Study of the Stress-Strain State of the Material at the Crack Tip, Located in the Area of the Structural Concentrator

Abstract

The influence of the stress concentrator is studied due to the design features of the welded metal structure of a loader crane on the stress-strain state of the material in the fracture process zone. Within the framework of the research, a physical criterion using the basic mechanical properties of the material is applied. A normal tear-off crack is considered under uniaxial loading conditions. FEM analysis of T-joint and lap welded joint models, as creating the highest stress concentration in metal structures of loader cranes, is carried out. A comparative analysis of calculation results for models with a crack in the concentrator area and models with a crack in a smooth plate is performed. The influence of the concentrator and its several parameters on the stress stiffness at the crack tip is shown. A general averaged estimation of the concentrator influence on the material stress state in the fracture process zone is proposed. Recommendations on taking into account the presence of the concentrator in analytical calculations are given.

Keywords

• welded joint
• crack
• stress concentrator
• welding defect
• brittle fracture
• stress stiffness
• finite element method
• strength criterion