Experimental and numerical fatigue crack growth of an aluminium pipe repaired by composite patch

In this study a cylindrical cracked aluminium pipe is considered. Fatigue crack growth behaviour of the pipe is observed through experimental tests. Stress intensity factors are computed for the pipe with an inclined crack under axial tensile load. Fatigue crack trajectory and also the crack growth curves versus number of cycles of load, are extracted. Validation of results is then achieved through the extended finite element method (XFEM). A stand-alone MATLAB programming package is developed to study such structures with 3D degenerated shell elements. The cracked pipe is finally repaired by glass/epoxy polymer composite and the effect of the patch is observed on the extension of fatigue life through experimental tests and the XFEM framework.