PyCrack: Finite element software for linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis

Resumo

Teaching linear elastic fracture mechanics faces challenges related to conceptual understanding, computational modeling, and the time required. The modeling process involves predicting discontinuities, crack mapping and mesh discretization, particularly in finite elements. The objective of this work is to develop a Python code to numerically analyze cracked components, based on the hypotheses of linear-elastic fracture mechanics with axial symmetry. The two-dimensional analysis is performed using quadratic tetrahedral finite elements. The methodology includes the automatic generation of the mesh mapping the elements around the crack tip, which are usually called rosette. The user of this software can choose whether to numerically analyze a rosette of 1 to 3 rings. The first ring is composed of Quarter Point elements. The calculation of the stress intensity factor (SIF) is done using the J-Integral methods and the displacement correlation method. A user interface is developed using the Tkinter library in the Python programming environment. The Python program helps students interested in the implementation to understand the process, and the Tkinter interface is important to familiarize with the data inputs of problems involving fracture mechanics. Validation examples are compared with the literature to verify the code.