Development of a cohesive zone model for three-dimensional simulation of joint de-bonding/delamination under mixed-mode I/II fatigue loading

Abstract

Purpose – In this work, the cohesive zone model (CZM) developed by some of the authors to simulate the propagation of fatigue defects in two dimensions is extended in order to simulate the propagation of defects in 3D. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – The procedure has been implemented in the finite element (FE) solver (Abaqus) by programming the appropriate software-embedded subroutines. Part of the procedure is devoted to the calculation of the rate of energy release per unit, G, necessary to know the growth of the defect. Findings – The model was tested on different joint geometries, with different load conditions (pure mode I, mode II pure, mixed mode I/II) and the results of the analysis were compared with analytical solutions or virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). Originality/value – The possibility to simulate the growth of a crack without any re-meshing requirements and the relatively easy possibility to manipulate the constitutive law of the cohesive elements makes the CZM attractive also for the fatigue crack growth simulation. However, differently from VCCT, three-dimensional fatigue de-bonding/delamination with CZM is not yet state-of-art in FE softwares.

Cohesive/adhesive failure interaction in ductile adhesive joints Part II: Quasi-static and fatigue analysis of double lap-joint specimens subjected to through-thickness compressive loading

“…In recent years, methods aiming at improving the reliability of numerical tools for fatigue failure predictions of adhesive bond have been proposed [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Like their quasi-static failure equivalent [11], these models are primarily based on the cohesive zone method (CZM).…”

Fast failure prediction of adhesively bonded structures using a coupled stress‐energetic failure criterion

“…As it has been shown in Leguillon, the combination of both stress and energetic criteria forms the necessary and sufficient condition to predict failure of an adhesively bonded joint. Similar techniques to predict damage initiation and propagation like the cohesive zone model (CZM) also exist; yet these last solutions greatly increase the computational cost and cannot be used in a predimensional phase. All previous methodologies consider the behaviour of the adhesive as linear elastic.…”