Computational Mechanics demonstrated that the BEASY
boundary elements software can accurately predict
the high edge of contact stresses that are typically
associated with fretting fatigue damage and crack
initiation. The BEASY Fatigue and Crack Growth software
was used to predict the growth of fretting fatigue
cracks in a dovetail joint test specimen.
The
BEASY crack growth results were compared toexperimental
test data obtained from the Air Force Research Lab
(AFRL) to help better understand the mechanisms
governing the growth of fretting fatigue cracks.
The project also focused on developing the software
architecture for a complete modeling system that
would be able to predict component failure events
and determine useful remaining service life.
This modeling environment would be based on the
SIMLAB advanced modeling system and incorporate
FE SAFE for crack initiation and BEASY for contact
mechanics and crack growth.
