Modelling fatigue crack propagation in coped beams using XFEM

In the past years, the safety of steel railway bridges has been questioned due to the coped beam connection sensitivity to fatigue and fatigue crack appearance. To ensure the safety of these railway bridges, the propagation of the fatigue crack needs to be analysed by performing regular inspection on the bridges. The frequency of these is...

Numerical investigation for cracks of rib-to-deck welded connection at the crossbeam junction in OSD using XFEM: A Crack Propagation Study Based on Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics

The orthotropic steel deck (OSD) is nowadays commonly used due to its advantages, such as its lightweight, short construction time, and high capacity to bear the loads. However, fatigue cracks occur in different welded connections in the OSD. In this study, the rib to-deck-plate connection at the crossbeam conjunction has been analysed. This...

Fracture Mechanics: Application on Orthotropic Steel Decks

In the course of this thesis, a research has been conducted to the application of fracture mechanics on an othotropic steel deck (OSD). Obtaining accurate predictions of crack path and fatigue life assessment were the main objectives for this thesis. As 3D crack propagation modelling in orthotropic steel decks is an arduous task, simpler studies...