Innovative Multi-scale/Multi-physics based Tool for Predicting Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation in Aircraft Structural Components using Phase

In this STTR effort, TDA and its team partner Northeastern University will focus on developing an innovative computational tool based on Phase Field Modeling approach for prediction of crack initiation and propagation under a variety of loading and environmental conditions. The proposed PFM computational framework accounts for both brittle and ductile fracture, including crack initiation and crack growth. Existing PFM models of crack initiation and growth will be reformulated to account for ductile fracture as well as fatigue loading situation. Critical experiments will be performed during the course of this research where needed. The goal of this PFM framework is to predict both the growth rate and the path of fatigue cracks without ad hoc rules or conditions. We further investigate interaction of crack with materials microstructure such as grain boundaries.Proposed PFM framework will address geometrically complex phenomena such as microstructure-crack interaction, crack kinking and branching, crack closure and stress corrosion cracking. Solution for the PFM method will be obtained by finite element method. Extension of the numerical approach to include Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) is also proposed.