Numerical Analysis of the Transient Thermal Stress Intensity Factors in Cylinders Containing an External Circumferential Semi-Elliptical Crack

Abstract

In this paper, the transient thermal stress intensity factors for circumferential semi-elliptical crack located on the external surface of the cylinder are determined numerically. The internal surface of the cylinder is exposed to ultra-cold fluid, and the external wall is kept at a constant temperature. The three-dimensional finite element method in ABAQUS software and singular elements in the crack front has been used. In order to ensure the accuracy of the modelling process, stress intensity factors on the cylinder containing the semi-elliptical crack under mechanical loading for different geometric dimensions of the cylinder are extracted, and the results are evaluated with available data. In the research process, transient thermal stress has been modelled using an uncoupled thermoelasticity model in the quasi-static state. Also, the thermal stress results in steady-state are compared to the existing analytical data and, excellent agreement is achieved. Finally, transient thermal stress intensity factors are presented for different values of cylinder radius ratio and various relative depths and aspect ratios of the crack.

Keywords

• external semi-elliptical circumferential crack
• transient thermal stress
• three-dimensional finite element method
• stress intensity factors
• cylinder