Edge Crack

Inserts an edge crack into a solid body.

Object Properties

The Details Pane properties for this object include the following.

CategoryProperties/Options/Descriptions

Scope

Source: Read-only property set to Analytical Crack

Scoping Method: Read-only property set to Geometry Selection.

Geometry: Use the Body selection filter to pick a solid body, click in the Geometry field, then click Apply.

Definition

Crack ID: A read-only property that displays a unique system generated identification value. The application uses this identifier when creating solution identifiers for fracture parameters.

Coordinate System: Specifies the user-defined coordinate system that defines the orientation of the crack. The Y axis of the specified coordinate system must be directed towards the normal of the crack plane and the crack plane always lies in the X-Z plane of the specified coordinate system.

Crack Shape: Read-only property set to Edge.

Start Width: Specifies the width at the start of the crack. Enter a value greater than 0.

End Width: Specifies the width at the end of the crack. Enter a value greater than 0.

Mid Width: Specifies the width at the mid-point of the start and end of the crack. Enter a value greater than 0.

Depth: Specifies the depth of the crack. Enter a value greater than 0.

Mesh Method: This is a read-only property set to Tetrahedrons, the only supported method.

Largest Contour Radius: Specifies the largest contour radius for the crack shape. Enter a value greater than 0. You can parameterize this property.

Growth Rate: This property is only visible when the Mesh Method property is set to Tetrahedrons. It specifies the factor with which the mesh layers will grow along the radius of the crack. Specify a value greater than 1. The default value is 1.2. The recommended value is equal to or greater than 1.1.

Front Element Size: This property specifies the element size for the crack front. The default value is computed using crack length. Specify a value greater than 0.

Mesh Contours: Specifies the number of mesh contours for the crack shape. The value you enter must be equal to or greater than 1. The default setting is 6.


Note:  The maximum number of mesh contours the Geometry window can display is 100. However, you can specify a higher value and the application will process it accordingly.


Solution Contours: Specifies the number of mesh contours for which you want to compute the fracture result parameters. The value you enter must be less than or equal to the value of Mesh Contours, and cannot be greater than 99. By default, the value is Match Mesh Contours, indicating the number of Solution Contours is equal to the number of Mesh Contours. Entering 0 resets the value to Match Mesh Contours.

Suppressed: Toggles suppression of the Edge Crack object. The default is No. The application automatically suppresses the crack object if the scoped body becomes suppressed.

Buffer Zone Scale Factors

This category includes the following properties:

  • X Scale Factor

  • Y Scale Factor

  • Z Scale Factor

These properties control the size of the buffer zone in the X, Y, and Z directions, relative to the dimensions of the crack. For each scaling parameter, use the slider to set a value from 2 to 50. The default is 2. The maximum dimension among the three directions of the crack is multiplied by the corresponding scale factors to create a buffer zone. When the Mesh Method property is set to Hex-Dominant, the crack dimensions also include fracture-affected zones.

Named Selections Creation

Named Selections are created automatically when the fracture mesh is generated. These Named Selections are a special type of Named Selection. For more information about this category and its properties, see the Defining an Edge Crack section as well as the Special Handling of Named Selections for Crack Objects section. For information about Named Selections in general, refer to Named Selections in the Mechanical Object Reference.

Tree Dependencies

Insertion Methods

Select the Fracture object and select the Edge Crack option from the Crack group on the Fracture Context Tab. You can also right-click the Fracture object and select the crack from the menu. Any currently inserted cracks also provide this right-click menu.

Right-click Options

In addition to common right-click options, relevant right-click options for this object include:

  • Insert >

    • Arbitrary Crack

    • Semi-Elliptical Crack

    • Elliptical Crack

    • Ring Crack

    • Corner Crack

    • Edge Crack

    • Through Crack

    • Cylindrical Crack

    • Pre-Meshed Crack

    • Crack Initiation

    • Commands

  • Generate All Crack Meshes

  • Suppress

API Reference

See the Edge Crack section of the ACT API Reference Guide for specific scripting information.

Additional Related Information