Shape Optimization of Structures with a Crack

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Most of mechanical failures are caused by repeated loadings and therefore they are strongly related to fatigue. To avoid the failures caused by fatigue, determination of an optimal shape of a structure is one of the very important factors in the initial design stage. Shape optimization for a compact tension specimen in opening mode in fracture mechanics, was accomplished by the linear elastic fracture mechanics and the growth-strain method in this study. Also shape optimization for a cantilever beam in mixed mode was carried out by the same techniques. The linear elastic fracture mechanics was used to estimate stress intensity factors and fatigue lives. And the growth-strain method was used to optimize the shape of the initial shape of the specimens. From the results of the shape optimization, it was found that shapes of two types of specimens and a cantilever beam optimized by the growth-strain method prolong their fatigue lives very much. Therefore, it was verified that the growth-strain method is an appropriate technique for shape optimization of a structure having a crack.