Simulation of ductile crack growth in thin panels using the crack tip opening angle

The aim of this work is the assessment of the efficiency of the crack tip opening angle (CTOA) with respect to the transferability from one geometry to another, in particular the transferability obtained from Kahn tear tests to M(T) panels. The load–displacement behaviour recorded during a Kahn tear test was reproduced by means of finite element analysis using a variable CTOA as a function of crack length. The CTOA extracted from Kahn tests has then been used to simulate the R-curve of M(T) panels with different widths. Experiments and simulations were run first on a 6013-T6 aluminium alloy and then also on butt, friction stir welded butt joints of the same material.