Spyros A. Karamanos, Ph.D. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Title:	High performance approach to fatigue crack analysis and life prediction (HiPERCRACK).
Title of Work Package:	Finite element analysis of fatigue crack growth in welded tubular connections - WP5 of program HiPERCRACK.
Sponsor:	European Union - program "Growth"
Project:	G5RD-CT-2000-00204
Contract No.:	GRD1-1999-11077
Partners:	SENER Ingenieria y Sistemas SA, Bilbao, Spain Centro Ricerche Fiat SCPA, Torino, Italy Volvo Aero Corporation, Sweden MSC Software Gmbh, France SEMTECH SA, Belgium NCode International Linited, UK Institute of Technical Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece (ΙΤΣΑΚ) Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid, Spain Dept. of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, U. of Thessaly (subcontractor)
Objective:	The program is aimed at developing a finite element formulation for the rigorous analysis of metal members and structures. The formulation is based on the "cohesive" elements. These elements operate in a finite element framework, and simulate the crack zone. To model fatigue damage due to cyclic load, an extrapolation algorithm is developed for increasing the computational efficiency of the numerical method. In the specific Work Package (WP5), the above finite element technique is employed for the simulation of fatigue crack growth in welded tubular connections, a application of major interest for offshore joints in offshore platforms. The results from the present WP are aimed at simulating previous experimental observations, as well as assessing the efficiency and conservativeness of existing design tools, based on simplified analysis and design methods.
Principal Investigator for U. of Thessaly:	Spyros A. Karamanos
Total Budget :
Budget for Univ. of Thessaly:	15,000 Euros
Duration:	12 months (2002 - 2003)
Figures:	Figure 1 - Figure 2 - Figure 3 - Figure 4 - Figure 5 - Figure 6 - Figure 7 - Figure 8