1. Estimate of the driving force for creep crack growthOtmar Kolednik, Marko Kegl, Nenad Gubeljak, Jožef Predan, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: A discussion on the conventional creep crack growth parameters, e.g. the experimental C*-integral, C*exp, or the experimental Ct-integral, Ct,ssc, shows that the physical meaning of these parameters for growing cracks in elastic–plastic, creeping materials is not fully clear. Therefore, a comparison is presented in this paper between the conventional creep crack growth parameters, several J-integral related parameters and the crack driving force (CDF), which has been used in linear elastic and elastic–plastic fracture mechanics. The CDF for elastic–plastic, creeping materials is derived from basic thermodynamic principles and by applying the concept of configurational forces (CFs). A comprehensive numerical study is performed where crack propagation is modelled by alternating creep and crack extension steps at constant loads in a compact tension specimen made of the nickel-base superalloy Waspaloy at a temperature of 700 °C. The CDF is evaluated by a CF-based post-processing procedure after a conventional finite element computation. This procedure is applicable for small-scale creep (ssc-), transition creep (tc-) and “moderate” extensive creep (ec-) conditions. For more pronounced ec-conditions, the procedure might have to be adapted. It is shown that C*exp and Ct,ssc reflect the time derivative of the CDF during the creep stages. In contrast, the variations of the CDF coincide well with that of J-values estimated from the crack-tip opening displacement.
Keywords: fracture mechanics, creep crack growth, crack driving force, C*-integral, J-integral, configurational force concept, finite element method
Published in DKUM: 20.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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2. Simulation and mechanical properties of fine-grained heat-affected zone microstructure in 18CrNiMo7-6 steelTomaž Vuherer, Fidan Smaili, Edvard Bjelajac, Mirza Manjgo, Gorazd Lojen, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Heat-affected zones (HAZs) in real welds are usually quite narrow, and consequently most standard mechanical tests are difficult or even impossible. Therefore, simulated microstructures are often used for mechanical tests. However, the most often used weld thermal cycle simulator produces only a few millimeters wide area of simulated microstructure in the middle of specimens. Consequently, these kind of simulated specimen are not suitable for standard tensile tests, and even for Charpy impact tests, the simulated area can be too narrow. Therefore, to investigate the mechanical properties of a fine-grain heat-affected zone in 18CrNiMo7-6 steel, two methods were used for simulation of as-welded microstructures: (a) a weld thermal cycle simulator, and (b) as an alternative, though not yet verified option, austenitizing in a laboratory furnace + water quenching. The microstructures were compared and mechanical properties investigated. The grain sizes of the simulated specimens were 10.9 μm (water-quenched) and 12.6 μm (simulator), whereby the deviations from the real weld were less than 10%. Both types of simulated specimen were used for hardness measurement, Charpy impact tests, and fatigue tests. Water-quenched specimens were large enough to enable standard tensile testing. A hardness of 425 HV, yield strength Rp02 = 1121 MPa, tensile strength Rm = 1475 MPa, impact energy KV = 73.11 J, and crack propagation threshold ΔKthR = 4.33 MPa m0.5 were obtained with the water quenched specimens, and 419 HV, KV = 101.49 J, and ΔKthR = 3.4 MPa m0.5 with the specimens prepared with the simulator. Comparison of the results confirmed that the annealed and quenched specimens were suitable for mechanical tests of FG HAZs, even for standard tensile tests. Due to the use of simulated test specimens, the mechanical properties determined can be linked to the FG HAZ microstructure in 18CrNiMo7-6 steel.
Keywords: weld joint, fine-grained HAZ, simulation of microstructure, hardness, impact toughness, tensile properties, fatigue crack growth, 18CrNiMo7-6 steel
Published in DKUM: 05.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 8
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3. Numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth and fracture in welded joints using XFEM—a review of case studiesAleksandar Sedmak, Aleksandar Grbović, Nenad Gubeljak, Simon Sedmak, Nikola Budimir, 2024, review article Abstract: Numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth in welded joints is not well represented in the literature, especially from the point of view of material heterogeneity in a welded joint. Thus, several case studies are presented here, including some focusing on fracture, presented by two case studies of mismatched high-strength low-alloyed (HSLA) steel welded joints, with cracks in the heat affected zone (HAZ) or in weld metal (WM). For fatigue crack growth, the extended finite element method FEM (XFEM) was used, built in ABAQUS and ANSYS R19.2, as presented by four case studies, two of them without modelling different properties of the welded joint (WJ). In the first one, fatigue crack growth (FCG) in integral (welded) wing spar was simulated by XFEM to show that its path is partly along welded joints and provides a significantly longer fatigue life than riveted spars of the same geometry. In the second one, an integral skin-stringer panel, produced by means of laser beam welding (LBW), was analysed by XFEM in its usual form with stringers and additional welded clips. It was shown that the effect of the welded joint is not significant. In the remaining two papers, different zones in welded joints (base metal—BM, WM, and HAZ) were represented by different coefficients of the Paris law to simulate different resistances to FCG in the two cases; one welded joint was made of high-strength low-alloyed steel (P460NL1) and the other one of armour steel (Protac 500). Since neither ABAQUS nor ANSYS provide an option for defining different fatigue properties in different zones of the WJ, an innovative procedure was introduced and applied to simulate fatigue crack growth through different zones of the WJ and evaluate fatigue life more precisely than if the WJ is treated as a homogeneous material.
Keywords: fatigue crack growth, extended finite element method, welded joints, fatigue life, highstrength low-alloyed steel
Published in DKUM: 25.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
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4. Experimental characterization and phase-field damage modeling of ductile fracture in AISI 316lVladimir Dunić, Nenad Gubeljak, Miroslav Živković, Vladimir Milovanović, Darko Jagarinec, Nenad Djordjevic, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: ) Modeling and characterization of ductile fracture in metals is still a challenging task in
the field of computational mechanics. Experimental testing offers specific responses in the form of
crack-mouth (CMOD) and crack-tip (CTOD) opening displacement related to applied force or crack
growth. The main aim of this paper is to develop a phase-field-based Finite Element Method (FEM)
implementation for modeling of ductile fracture in stainless steel. (2) A Phase-Field Damage Model
(PFDM) was coupled with von Mises plasticity and a work-densities-based criterion was employed,
with a threshold to propose a new relationship between critical fracture energy and critical total
strain value. In addition, the threshold value of potential internal energy—which controls damage
evolution—is defined from the critical fracture energy. (3) The material properties of AISI 316L steel
are determined by a uniaxial tensile test and the Compact Tension (CT) specimen crack growth test.
The PFDM model is validated against the experimental results obtained in the fracture toughness
characterization test, with the simulation results being within 8% of the experimental measurements.
Keywords: phase-field damage modeling, ductile fracture, crack-tip opening displacement, crack growth, resistance curve, finite element method, simulations
Published in DKUM: 19.09.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 9
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5. Influence of microdefect on fatigue properties in weld fine grain heat affected zone on nickel molybdenum alloy steel : doctoral disertationFidan Smaili, 2023, doctoral dissertation Abstract: This research presents two possibilities to prepare and test the Fine Grain of a Heat Affected Zone, which, practically, could be considered as the weakest part of welded joints in the presence of any microdefect. It is a narrow zone located between the fusion zone and the unaffected base material; therefore, only a few methods are suitable to test its mechanical properties. The 18CrNiMo7-6 steel was used as the base material. As this steel is usually used for the production of dynamically loaded components, testing of its fatigue behaviour and fracture toughness was crucial, but also measurement of its hardness and impact toughness. To investigate the mechanical properties of a Fine-Grain Heat-Affected Zone (FG HAZ), two different methods for simulation of as-welded microstructures were used in this research: A weld thermal cycle simulator (WTCS) and austenitising in a laboratory furnace +
Keywords: weld joint, Fine Grain Heat Affected Zone, mechanical properties, fatigue crack growth
Published in DKUM: 06.10.2023; Views: 458; Downloads: 50
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6. Fatigue crack initiation from microstructurally small Vickers indentationsTomaž Vuherer, Andrej Godina, Zijah Burzić, Vladimir Gliha, 2007, original scientific article Abstract: The resistivity of coarse grain steel against crack initiation in the presence of micro defects is discussed. Samples of material with martensitic microstructure were prepared by adequate thermal treatment. Microstructurally small Vickers indentations were used as an artificial micro defect. The compressive residual stresses are due to the irreversibility of plastic deformation. The moment of indenting enables to prepare samples with and without effects of residual stresses. The stress level for crack initiation depends on the actual indentation size. The location of initiated cracks is affected by the presence and character of residual stresses.
Keywords: welded joints, micro defect, coarse grain HAZ, crack initiation, crack growth, stress concentration, fatigue limit, Vickers, residual stresses
Published in DKUM: 03.07.2017; Views: 1782; Downloads: 125
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7. Fatigue crack growth and fracture mechanics analysis of a working roll surface layer materialMatej Drobne, Tomaž Vuherer, Ivan Samardžić, Srečko Glodež, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Fatigue crack growth and fracture mechanics analysis of a working roll surface layer material is presented in this paper. The research is done on a hot strip mill working roll where High Chromium Steel is used for roll’s shell material. To obtain corresponding parameters, a rectangular single edge notched bend specimens – SENB, according to standard BS 7448, were used. The fatigue crack growth analysis was done on a resonant testing machine with use of special crack gauges, while for fracture mechanics parameters the electro–mechanical testing machine was used.
Keywords: fracture mechanics, fatigue crack growth, metal forming, rolling process, high chromium steel
Published in DKUM: 03.07.2017; Views: 1310; Downloads: 130
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8. Numerical modelling of crack growth in a gear tooth rootSrđan Podrug, Srečko Glodež, Damir Jelaska, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: A computational model for determination of crack growth in a gear tooth root is presented. Two loading conditions are taken into account: (i) normal pulsating force acting at the highest point of the single tooth contact and (ii) the moving load along the tooth flank. In numerical analysis it is assumed that the crack is initiated at the point of the largest stresses in a gear tooth root. The simple Paris equation is then used for a further simulation of the fatigue crack growth. The functional relationship between the stress intensity factor and crack length K=f(a), which is needed for determining the required number of loading cycles N for a crack propagation from the initial to the critical length, is obtained using a displacement correlation method in the framework of the FEM-method considering the effect of crack closure. The model is used for determining fatigue crack growth in a real gear made from case carburised and ground steel 14CiNiMo13-4, where the required material parameters were determined previously by appropriate test specimens. The results of the numerical analysis show that the prediction of crack propagation live and crack path in a gear tooth root are significantly different for both loading conditions considered.
Keywords: zobniki, utrujanje, širjenje razpoke, numerično modeliranje, gears, fatigue, crack growth, numerical modelling
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1347; Downloads: 85
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9. Determination of calibration function for fatigue crack propagation by measurment[!] surface deformationBruno Glaser, Nenad Gubeljak, Jožef Predan, Patrik Gubeljak, Aleksandar Veg, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Components and structures exposed to elastic dynamic loading respond with elastic strains on the surface of the material. Mechanical response could be monitored by deformations on the surface. The measurements and monitoring of these parameters could be performed with electronic devices for on-line measurements, controlled by computerized systems. In the case of fatigue crack initiation and propagation the cyclic strain amplitude deviated from initial strain response (mean value and amplitude). Implementation of appropriate monitoring system supported by computerized programs for evaluation, analyses and activation represent important means to safe service component or construction. To evaluate flaw depth growth, the strain gauge measuring sensors could be used. These sensors measure surface deformation relaxation due to flaw depth growth. The monitoring of the material under cyclic loading could be performed with experimentally determined calibration curve, representing deformation on the surface and depth of the semi-elliptical crack growth on the surface or cross section of the material. The goal of this paper is describe electronic device and experimental procedure in order to determine calibration function.
Keywords: deformacije, elastičnost, rast razpoke, fatigue crack growth, surface deformation meaurement
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1642; Downloads: 106
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10. Determination of fatigue crack growth parameters in welded joint of HSLA steelLjubica Milović, Tomaž Vuherer, Zoran Radaković, Blagoj Petrovski, Miodrag D. Janković, Milorad Zrilić, Darko Daničić, 2011, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The structural integrity and operational safety of welded pressure vessels primarily depends on the behaviour of weldments. In spite of all efforts in material production and improvements in welding techniques, including strict codes, requirements and directives, the crack occurrence in welded structures cannot be completely excluded. This is why fracture mechanics analysis is inevitable in the structural integrity assessment of all welded structures. Examples of practical application of fracture mechanics parameters in cracked pressure vessel structural integrity are considered. This paper shows the determination of parameters of the fatigue crack for constituents of welded joints produced of high strength low alloyed steel Nionikral-70 (yield strength 700 MPa). Results have shown that the position of notch and crack initiation affect the values of the stress intensity range of fatigue threshold ?Kth and parameters in the Paris' equation.
Keywords: HSLA jekla, rast razpoke, HSLA steel, crack growth rate, fatigue threshold, Paris' law
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2015; Views: 1978; Downloads: 38
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