Predicting the fatigue life and crack aspect ratio evolution in complex structures

Fatigue performance of tubular X-joints with PJP+ welds: II — Numerical investigation

“…Olowokere and Nwosu [11] demonstrated that the crack propagation life estimated using the Paris law with numerically computed stress-intensity factors (SIFs) using spring elements agreed well with the experimental results obtained from cracked tubular T-joints subjected to axial loads and brace in-plane bending. Wallbrink et al [12] extended the prediction on the fatigue and crack shape evolution based on Paris law to complex tubular joints after confirming their approach on flat plate specimens. Various research groups [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] have reported, with the aid of 3-D finite element (FE) analyses, SIF solutions for the semi-elliptical surface cracks near the hot-spot locations in different types of tubular connections.…”