Evaluation of stress intensity factors at tips of multi-site cracks on curved panels using XFEM

Abstract EN

The current study is based on research that focused on multiple site damage phenomena on the curved panel that contained 3 rivet holes (6 cracks), In This study, two more rivet holes were added to the model, and the stress intensity factors are considered by using XFEM, the SIFs computations was accomplished for aircraft fuselage frame: un-stiffened panel with ten cracked rivet holes, for four different curvature diameters, subjected to uniform internal pressurization.

The comparison of the results showed that conducted analyses revealed the results which can be useful in the assessment of fatigue crack growth rate, and fatigue life of curved aircraft configuration with multi-site damage.

Also, the result comparisons of the two models showed that SIFs values increased by 12 times and the crack length increased by 4 times, as the stress concentration increased as a result of the rise of the holes.