Stress Intensity Factors

The BEASY Technology used to perform the simulation is a combination of Boundary Element (BEM) and Finite Element methodologies optimised to achieve the best from both methods.  BEM is used to model the crack and predict the Fracture Mechanics data.

The stress intensity factors are computed along the crack front using either the crack opening displacement or the J-integral.  The strain energy release rate is also available.  The BEM is particularly well suited to predict fracture data as it can more accurately represent the singularites in the stress field near the crack.

The crack growth direction is also computed using the Stress Intensity Factors along the crack front using either the maximum principle stress or the direction indicated by minimum strain energy. 

 

BEASY allows Stress Intensity Data to be computed for 2D and 3D cases and the results saved for future use in life calculations.  BEASY also provides a tool to enable quick calculations to be performed using handbook or analytic Stress Intensity solutions.