Stress intensity factors in the presence of contact stresses

Abstract In this paper, a loaded tolerance-fit pin in a cracked or uncracked lug is studied. Both symmetrical and non-symmetrical cracks are considered. A symmetrical contact problem due to symmetrical cracks, can be solved automatically. However, non-symmetrical problems can be solved only by re-meshing at each load step if a consistent and smooth contact solution is to be obtained. Special modelling techniques were developed so that such problems could be solved in a systematic way. The technique used based on an efficient boundary element contact analysis with iterative and fully incremental loading procedures. This technique is applicable to the solution of non-linear frictional contact problems in cracked structures. Numerical results for the tractions show that load transfer depends on the frictional characteristics and the relative structural stiffness of the lug and the pin. Stress intensity factors were obtained from a J -integral at each load step. Results for both one and two cracks at the edge of the hole are shown to depend on the coefficient of friction.