Issue 41

F.V. Antunes et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 41 (2017) 149-156; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.41.21 154 Figure 4 : Effect of finite element mesh (AA6082-T6; plane stress; F min =0 N, F max =400 N). Impact on da/dN predictions The effect of the measurement node on da/dN predictions was also studied. First, for the AA 7050-T6, two plots of da/dN versus  CTOD p were obtained using nodes 1 and 12 behind crack tip, at distances of 8 and 96  m, respectively. In addition, experimental values of da/dN in M(T) specimens were obtained, as described by Antunes et al.  6  . Fig. 6a shows linear plots of the da/dN-  CTOD p values as well as models fitted to the results. Node 12 gives lower values of plastic CTOD, therefore the curves are on the left side of those obtained with node 1, since da/dN is the same. The models presented in Fig. 6a were used to predict the effect of an overload. A numerical analysis was developed for constant amplitude loading with F min =209 N and F max =418 N. In a second analysis, an overload F OL =627 N was applied after 80 crack increments. The plastic CTOD was predicted numerically and was used to obtain the da/dN values using the models defined in Fig. 6a. The results are presented in Fig. 6b. The overload cycle produces a sudden increase of da/dN, followed by an important decrease to a minimum value, and, then, there is a progressive increase to the constant amplitude curves. The global aspect of these predictions are according experimental results  8  . However, in sum, the node behind crack tip used to develop this study is relevant, since different results are obtained, particularly for constant amplitude tests. Figure 5 : Effect of the number of load cycles (a) AA6082-T6; plane stress; F min =0 N, F max =360 N). (b) AA6016-T4; plane stress; F min =0 N, F max =140 N). 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2 0 200 400 600 800  CTODp (µm) d (µm) Mesh M8 Mesh M16 Mesh M32 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 0 200 400 600 800  CTOD p (µm) d (µm) NLC=5 NLC=2 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0 500 1000 1500  CTODp (µm)  a (µm) NLC=2 NLC=5