Influence of node release in crack propagation simulation under variable amplitude loading

The aim of this paper is to verify the effect of different crack propagation rates in determination of crack opening and closing stress of an ASTM specimen under a standard suspension spectrum loading from FD&E SAE Load Histories by finite element analysis. The crack propagation simulation was based on nodes release in the minimum loads to minimize convergence problems. To understand the crack propagation processes under variable amplitude loading, retardation effects are observed and discussed.