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Journal article
Application of phase field approach to predict fatigue crack link-up in a riveted lap joint
International journal of fatigue, v 205, 109368
04 Nov 2025
Featured in Collection : Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
Abstract
This article presents a study on fatigue crack growth and link-up behavior in riveted lap joint panels, representative of an aircraft fuselage, containing multi-site damage (MSD). Four sub-scale lap joint specimens were subjected to constant-amplitude sinusoidal fatigue testing with marker band loading sequences. Artificially induced damage sites were introduced to simulate MSD scenarios. An anti-bend fixture was used to assess the effect of secondary bending on fatigue crack initiation and growth. The experimental results showed that the anti-bend fixture significantly reduced secondary bending in the lap joints, leading to an overall improvement in fatigue life. Post-fatigue forensic analysis of the fracture surfaces was performed to track crack progression and determine crack growth rates. The forensic analysis results provided detailed measurements of crack progression and link-up behavior, enabling a clear characterization of the MSD progression observed in the tested lap joint specimens.
A finite element-based framework, incorporating phase field approach, was developed to simulate fatigue crack growth and link-up behavior. An exiting phase field framework was adopted and modified by excluding plastic strain energy in the critical damage-driving term of total strain energy to address the crack growth characteristics during unloading phases. Simulation results showed good agreement with experimental data in terms of crack growth rate, crack path, and link-up behavior. These findings demonstrated the effectiveness of the phase field approach in capturing fatigue crack growth and link-up in aircraft fuselage lap joints, offering a robust tool for damage tolerance assessment and life prediction in aircraft structures.
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Details
- Title
- Application of phase field approach to predict fatigue crack link-up in a riveted lap joint
- Creators
- Xiaomo Zhang (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsLi Meng - Drexel University, Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsAhmad Raeisi Najafi - Drexel University, Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsJonathan Awerbuch - Drexel University, Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsTein-Min Tan - Drexel University, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Publication Details
- International journal of fatigue, v 205, 109368
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- This study was partially supported by a grant from the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (FAA-TC) under Cooperative Agreement 692 M152040003 [Drexel University. 1 Sep 2020, 692M152040003, $350,000.00] with Dr. John Bakuckas, Jr. as the program monitor. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of Kevin Stonaker for facilitating the experimental work conducted at the FAA-TC Structures and Materials Lab. Dr. Li Meng was also supported in part by the faculty start-up funding from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at the Drexel University.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001626850400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105022840346
- Other Identifier
- 991022127452604721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Mechanical
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary