The phenomenon of ageing structures has focused attention on the problem of multiple-site damage (MSD) and wide spread fatigue damage (WFD). In isolation each ̄aw or crack may be safe. However, the cumulative e€ect of multiple, interacting cracks may signi®cantly degrade the damage tolerance of the structure. This paper presents an overview of a new ®nite element alternating technique algorithm...

Abstract-An alternating method, in conjunction with the finite element method and a solution for multiple coplanar elliptical cracks in an intinite solid, is used to determine stress intensity factors for semi-elliptical surface flaws in cylindrical pressure vessels. The solution technique for multiple cracks in an infinite body has recently been developed by the prese.nt authors which implemen...

-This paper presents an overview of the finite element alternating technique for the analysis of interacting cracks. To illustrate the ease and accuracy of this method the technique is used to analyse several problems associated with both widespread fatigue and multi-site damage, a problem which is attracting worldwide attention. Whilst this paper presents an overview of the technique for both ...

Abstract-The complete solution for an embedded elliptical crack in an infinite solid and subjected to arbitrary tractions on the crack surface is rederived from Vijayakumar and Atluri’s general solution procedure. The general procedure for evaluating the necessary elliptic integrals in the generalized solution for elliptical crack is also derived in this paper. The generalized solution is emplo...

The present work investigates the effect of the elliptical three-dimensional (3D) cracks on a pipe with thickness transition, considering internal pressure. Level sets were defined using the extended finite element method (XFEM), the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of 3D cracks were investigated and compared between straight pipes and pipes with thickness transition. The results show that the X...

Introduction: There are several electromagnetic techniques that can be used for detecting surface-breaking cracks in metals, including potential drop, AC field measurement and eddy current methods. Each method possesses its own advantages and limitations in a specific application. In recent years, the use of microwaves has shown an increasing potential and success as a new technique for non-des...

Ultrasonic spectrum analysis is used to study the frequency and angular behavior of diffracted longitudinal waves from elliptical cracks with arbitrary orientation in diffusion bonded titanium alloy. The aspect ratio of the cracks (ratio of major to minor axis) ranged from l to 8 and the bandwidth of the input signal was such that the scattering diameter was ka > l. The experimental data are an...

This paper (Part II), which is the second in a series of two papers, presents new closed-form solutions for net-section-collapse (NSC) analysis of circumferentially cracked pipes for several idealized crack shapes subjected to combined bending and tension (pressure-induced) loads. They are based on further simpli®cations of generalized NSC equations developed in a parallel study. Analytical sol...