Constraint in the Failure Assessment Diagram Approach for Fracture Assessment

Abstract This paper presents a framework for including constraint effects in the failure assessment diagram approach for fracture assessment. As parameters for describing constraint are still the subject of development, the framework is illustrated using both the elastic T-stress and the hydrostatic Q-stress. It is shown that constraint effects can be treated by modifying the shape of the failure assessment curve. In their simplest form, the modifications involve only two parameters: one quantifying the magnitude of structural constraint which depends on geometry and crack size; and the second quantifying the influence of constraint on fracture toughness.