A
new systematic procedure has been developed for analyzing stable crack growth. In this method, the crack instability point can be predicted from a single J-l record, which is developed from a given material J,-curve and the J-integral-related solutions resulting from stress analysis of a flawed structure. Here 1 represents the physical load applied to the structure. The development of the J-f relation that satisfies the equilibrium state of crack growth is so simple that hand calculator analysis is possible for complex structural geometries with available J-related stress analysis results.
The advantage of the new method over existing ones, such as the failure assessment diagram approach or the tearing i~~biiity theory, is that it can predict the critical physical load level and the crack instabihty point at the same time without resorting to the use of a fixed diagram or evaluating tearing modulus. The validity of the procedure has been demonstrated by solving a center-cracked tensioned panel with various loading mechanisms (displacement-controlled, foadcontrolled and mixed loading systems) and a pressure vessel geometry under internal pressure.