Numerical analysis of the pivot node in fracture problems

Abstract

Recent studies have allowed us to identify a narrow region of the thickness of the crack front in fracture problems that presents interesting characteristics for the numerical-experimental correlation. Taking the three-dimensional distribution of the stress intensity factor (K) as a reference, we observe how it remains invariant and independent of the main factors influencing this type of analysis. This article presents a summary of how to identify this point through the numerical simulation of the problem and its relationship with parameters such as thickness, load level or angle of curvature. The simulations are carried out with the ANSYS software in an aluminium CT specimen subjected to a fracture loading process in mode I.