SGBEM-FEM modeling of stress corrosion cracking

SGBEM-FEM computational procedure is used for modeling of crack growth under stress corrosion cracking (SCC) conditions. The crack is modeled by the symmetric Galerkin boundary element method (SGBEM). The finite element method (FEM) is used for stress analysis of the uncracked structural component. The solution for the structural component with the crack is obtained in an iterative procedure, which alternates between FEM solution for the uncracked body, and the SGBEM solution for the crack in an infinite medium. Computational procedure for SCC crack growth is developed. Crack growth criterion in the three-dimensional case is based on the J-integral vector. Since the crack model and the structural component model are separated, it is easy to modify the boundary element mesh during crack growth. Examples of crack growth modeling are presented. (author)