An Improved Computational Strategy to Estimate Residual Stresses from Crack Compliance Data

The successive cracking (crack compliance) method is a destructive technique aimed at determination of residual stresses in various structural members. The laboratory measurements performed during extension of a crack are followed by a computational analysis. We propose a modification of the numerical approach in order to simplify the method and improve its accuracy. The basic idea of the proposed modification is to approximate plastic strains rather than the residual stresses directly. Furthermore, we use the goal oriented adaptive finite element method that generates optimal meshes for evaluation of strains at specific points.