Axial Crack Propagation and Crack Kinking Criteria in Pressurized Fuselage

Abstract

The crack arrest capability of a tear strap in a pressurized precracked fuselage was studied through instrumental axial rupture tests of small-scale models of an idealized fuselage. Upon pressurization, rapid crack propagation was initiated at an axis through crack along the stringer and immediately kinked due to the mixed mode I and II states caused by the one-sided opening of the crack flap. The diagonally running crack turned at the tear straps. Dynamic finite element analysis of the rupturing cylinder showed that the crack kinked and also ran straight in the pressure of a mixed mode state according to a modified two-parameter crack kinking criterion.