A Practical Approach for Evaluation of Thermal Shock SIF's in Flexibly Restrained Edge Cracked Plates

A practical method to evaluate the thermal shock stress intensity factors (TS-SIF`s) associated with a flexibly restrained edge-cracked plate (FRECP) is outlined. It is assumed that the edge crack can be represented with a spring couple, and the deformations of the edge-cracked plate are consistent with Euler-Bernoulli deformation theory. It is then demonstrated how a compliance analysis of this simplified representation can be used with a finite element analysis of equivalent crack free plates to evaluate to TS-SIF`s associated with a FRECP. The accuracy of this method is shown to be excellent by comparing it against a direct fracture mechanic finite element analysis. This method is therefore advantageous to a fracture mechanic finite element analysis as it does not require an explicit analysis of a FRECP.