Single analysis predicts crack propagation

Finding out where and with what orientation a surface crack is most likely to initiate is a critical part of analysing and designing a structure.

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“This new method allows us to simplify the analysis tremendously, because instead of having to do an analysis for every single potential location of a crack along the surface of a certain structure, we perform a single analysis of the uncracked domain, which is much cheaper and faster to solve. This reduces the amount of computational work by orders of magnitude,” said Philippe Geubelle, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

To get a precise estimate of the energy release rate, the current method requires a numerical analysis with a very fine grid to discretised the structure, especially in the vicinity of the crack. In a statement, Geubelle said this new method uses topological derivatives to get an estimate of what the energy release would be if a crack showed up at any location and with any this orientation along the surface of a 3D structure.