Stress-intensity factors solutions for straight through cracks in C-sections

This work details a new stress-intensity factor (SIF) solution for a through-thickness edge crack in a structural member with a cross-section idealized as a generic C-section. This solution employs the methodology by Herrmann and co-workers (Herrmann and Sosa, 1986; Kienzler and Herrmann, 1986) that relates notch widening in structural sections to crack advance in the cross-section. Here, we calibrate an additional correction factor using a response surface methodology informed by results from finite element analyses. This approach results in an accurate SIF solution over the design space that is suitable for fatigue crack growth (FCG) analyses. Additional analyses performed in this work show the impact of changing the geometric ratios, loading, and restraint conditions on the SIF solutions.