Issue 41

F.V. Antunes et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 41 (2017) 149-156; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.41.21 153 predictions are robust relatively to the finite element mesh. Anyway, if the  CTOD p is measured at the first node behind crack tip, the value measured using a mesh of 32  m is lower than that predicted with 8  m, simply because the first node is more distant. Figure 2 : Plastic CTOD range versus distance behind crack tip, d (MT specimen; a=6.272 mm; 6082-T6 AA; mesh M8; contact; plane stress; F min =-40 N, F max =240 N). Figure 3 : (a) Effect of crack propagation on  CTOD p (AA6082-T6; node 1; plane stress; F min =0 N, F max =360 N). (b) Effect of stress state (AA7050-T6 F min =165 N, F max =552 N). Effect of the number of load cycles between crack increments The number of load cycles between crack increments (NLC) is another major parameter. The application of five load cycles between crack increments is closer to real fatigue crack growth rates than when are used two load cycles. Figs. 5a and 5b present results for the 6082-T6 and 6016-T4, respectively. As can be seen , there is a great difference of behaviour, which indicates that material properties play a major role when the number of load cycles is being studied. In the 6016-T4 the increase of the number of load cycles decreases the values of  CTOD p . 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0 200 400 600 800  CTOD p (µm) d (µm) A d A x y 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 0 500 1000 1500  CTODp (µm)  a (µm) plane strain plane tress 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 400 800 1200  CTODp (µm)  a (µm) CTOD p CTOD Load