A Damage Index-Based Evaluation Method for Predicting the Ductile Crack Initiation in Steel Structures

This article presents a damage evaluation method for predicting ductile crack initiation in steel bridge piers. In the proposed method, a damage index is introduced to evaluate ductile crack initiation. Seventeen different analytical models, including steel columns and beam-column connections in steel bridge pier frames, are created based on the shell element model, which takes local refined meshing into account. The plastic strain and damage index at strain concentration location are calculated. Moreover, effects of welded joint models, extension part, loading patterns and cross-section parameters are considered and discussed. Comparisons between experimental and analytical results show good prediction of ductile crack initiation. Meanwhile, the present method realizes prediction of ductile crack initiation at structural component level.

[1]  Hitoshi Kuwamura,et al.  Similitude Law of Prefracture Hysteresis of Steel Members , 2004 .

[2]  Chitoshi Miki,et al.  REQUIRED FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF STEEL TO PREVENT BRITTLE FRACTURE DURING EARTHQUAKES IN STEEL BRIDGE PIERS , 2003 .

[3]  Jun Iyama,et al.  EFFECTS OF MATERIAL TOUGHNESS AND PLATE THICKNESS ON BRITTLE FRACTURE OF STEEL MEMBERS , 2003 .

[4]  Gregory G. Deierlein,et al.  Calibration of the SMCS Criterion for Ductile Fracture in Steels: Specimen Size Dependence and Parameter Assessment , 2010 .

[5]  D. M. Tracey,et al.  On the ductile enlargement of voids in triaxial stress fields , 1969 .

[6]  L. Xue.  A unified expression for low cycle fatigue and extremely low cycle fatigue and its implication for monotonic loading , 2008 .

[7]  H. Kuwamura,et al.  Fracture of steel during an earthquake—state-of-the-art in Japan , 1998 .

[8]  Luis Calado,et al.  A model for predicting the failure of structural steel elements , 1989 .

[9]  Kuniaki Minami,et al.  A prediction model for extremely low cycle fatigue strength of structural steel , 2007 .

[10]  Hiroshi Akiyama,et al.  Brittle fracture under repeated high stresses , 1994 .

[11]  G. Deierlein,et al.  Cyclic Void Growth Model to Assess Ductile Fracture Initiation in Structural Steels due to Ultra Low Cycle Fatigue , 2007 .

[12]  George C. Lee,et al.  Low-Cycle Bending-Fatigue Strength of Steel Bars under Random Excitation. Part I: Behavior , 2005 .

[13]  Chitoshi Miki,et al.  BRITTLE FRACTURE AT BEAM-TO-COLUMN CONNECTION DURING EARTHQUAKE , 1998 .

[14]  Kazuo Tateishi,et al.  Low cycle fatigue strength of butt-welded steel joint by means of new testing system with image technique , 2004 .

[15]  Gregory G. Deierlein,et al.  Validation of Cyclic Void Growth Model for Fracture Initiation in Blunt Notch and Dogbone Steel Specimens , 2008 .

[16]  Hanbin Ge,et al.  Cyclic behavior of thin-walled steel structures—numerical analysis , 1998 .

[17]  G. Meschke,et al.  A hybrid modeling concept for ultra low cycle fatigue of metallic structures based on micropore damage and unit cell models , 2010 .

[18]  Gregory G. Deierlein,et al.  Prediction of Ductile Fracture in Steel Connections Using SMCS Criterion , 2006 .

[19]  Yi Zheng,et al.  Ductility Evaluation Procedure for Thin-Walled Steel Structures , 2000 .

[20]  George C. Lee,et al.  Low-Cycle Bending Fatigue of Steel Bars under Random Excitation. Part II: Design Considerations , 2005 .

[21]  Tsutomu Usami,et al.  Cyclic Behavior of Structural Steels. II: Theory , 1995 .

[22]  M. A. Wahab,et al.  Extremely Low Cycle(ELC) Fatigue Cracking Behaviour in Steel Bridge Rigid Frame Piers (耐震・免震・制震構造と地震防災システムの構築プロジェクト) , 2001 .

[23]  M. Sakano,et al.  Super - Low - Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Steel Pier Base Joint , 1995 .

[24]  Gregory G. Deierlein,et al.  Void Growth Model and Stress Modified Critical Strain Model to Predict Ductile Fracture in Structural Steels , 2006 .

[25]  H. Kuwamura,et al.  Classification of material and welding in fracture consideration of seismic steel frames , 2003 .