A software tool for automated crack onset and growth simulations based on the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) has been developed. For the first time, this tool is able to simulate arbitrary crack growth and composite delamination without remeshing. The automated tool is integrated with Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/CAE via the customization interfaces. It seamlessly works with the Commercia...

Fatigue crack propagation tests were conducted on the powder metallurgy nickel-base superalloy KM4 at room temperature. Two different heat treatments were investigated, one which produced a relatively coarse grain size around 55 μm, and another which produced a very fine grain size around 6 μm. Tests were conducted at 50 Hz and 1000 Hz in an advanced servohydraulic testing machine at R-ratios b...

Artificial aging degrades the fatigue crack growth (FCG) resistance of heat treatable aluminum alloys, particularly in the near-threshold regime. Consequently, applications of aluminum alloys in tensiondominated structures that require fatigue damage tolerance are limited to the naturally aged T3 temper. Degraded FCG resistance compromises the benefit from higher strength by artificial aging. W...