Probabilistic fracture finite elements
Abstract
The Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics (PFM) is a promising method for estimating the fatigue life and inspection cycles for mechanical and structural components. The Probability Finite Element Method (PFEM), which is based on second moment analysis, has proved to be a promising, practical approach to handle problems with uncertainties. As the PFEM provides a powerful computational tool to determine first and second moment of random parameters, the second moment reliability method can be easily combined with PFEM to obtain measures of the reliability of the structural system. The method is also being applied to fatigue crack growth. Uncertainties in the material properties of advanced materials such as polycrystalline alloys, ceramics, and composites are commonly observed from experimental tests. This is mainly attributed to intrinsic microcracks, which are randomly distributed as a result of the applied load and the residual stress.
- Publication:
-
Structural Integrity and Durability of Reusable Space Propulsion Systems
- Pub Date:
- May 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991sidr.nasa..137L
- Keywords:
-
- Fatigue Life;
- Finite Element Method;
- Fracture Mechanics;
- Fracture Strength;
- Microcracks;
- Probability Theory;
- Ceramics;
- Crack Propagation;
- Cracking (Fracturing);
- Method Of Moments;
- Polycrystals;
- Reliability Engineering;
- Residual Stress;
- Structural Design;
- Structural Mechanics