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Zencrack

Finite Element Interfaces

Overview

Find out more about the way that Zencrack interfaces to commercial finite element codes.

Zencrack's crack growth prediction capabilities require a suitable contour integral facility within the finite element code OR the use of nodal displacements to calculate stress intensity factors. Hence Zencrack can, in theory, interface to any finite element code if using the displacement based method. Interfaces are currently available to the finite element packages listed on this page.

Each copy of Zencrack Standard or Professional may be licensed with one or more of the available finite element interfaces.

The finite element package is not supplied with Zencrack and must be licensed from an appropriate supplier.

Some capabilities are available in limited form in some of the finite element interfaces:

Item
Abaqus
Ansys
Simcenter Nastran
Remeshing method
Yes
Yes
Not yet
J-integral calculation
Yes
Yes (1)
Yes (2)
Ct-integral calculation
Yes
Yes (3)
No
SIF-integral calculation
Yes
Yes (4)
No
T-stress integral calculation
Yes
Yes (5)
No
Automatic generation of contact on the crack faces (crack-block method)
Yes (6)
Yes (6)
No
Transition elements around large crack-blocks (crack-block method)
Yes
Yes
No
Output 20 noded target CB elements as 8 noded (crack-block method)
Yes
Yes
No
Restrictions on the use of some crack-blocks (crack-block method)
No
Yes (7)
No
User defined growth direction
Yes
No
No

1. J-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 11.0SP1 or later.
2. The interface to Simcenter Nastran requires NX Nastran version 10.0 or later or any version under the new Simcenter Nastran brand. Solution types SOL101 and SOL401 are supported. J-integral calculation requires SOL401 capability.
3. Ct-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 16 or later.
4. SIF-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 15 or later.
5. T-stress integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 15 or later.
6. Some manual effort is required in symmetry models, but fully automatic in full models.
7. Some crack-blocks contain elements that are collapsed in a way that some Ansys versions do not permit.

Zencrack

F.E. Interfaces

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