The numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth using extended finite element method

In the present work, the fatigue life of homogeneous plate containing multiple discontinuities (holes, minor cracks and inclusions) is evaluated by extended finite element method (XFEM) under cyclic loading condition. The multiple discontinuities of arbitrary size are randomly distributed in the plate. The values of stress intensity factors (SIFs) are extracted from the XFEM solution by domain based interaction integral approach. Standard Paris fatigue crack growth law is used for the life estimation of various model problems. The effect of the minor cracks, voids and inclusions on the fatigue life of the material is discussed in detail.

► The fatigue life of a plate with multiple discontinuities is evaluated by XFEM.
► The values of stress intensity factors are obtained by interaction integral approach.
► The holes, inclusions and minor cracks significantly affect the fatigue life.
► The holes, inclusions and cracks by 5% reduce the fatigue life nearly by 15–35%.
► The effect of holes is more severe as compared to the inclusions and minor cracks.