Abstract: A 3-D computational method to simulate stable growth of a macroscopic crack under model I condition is described in this paper. The Gurson-Tvergaard plasticity model for voided materials describes the damage process. Fixed-sized, computational cell elements (containing voids) defined over a thin layer at the crack plane simulate the ductile crack extension. Outside of this layer, the material remains undamaged by the void growth, follows the conventional J2 flow theory. The micromechanics parameters controlling crack growth are D, the thickness of computational cell layer and f0, the initial void porosity. Calibration of these parameters proceeds through analyses of ductile tearing to match R-curve obtained from testing of deep notch bend specimens for welded joints. The effect of the strength mismatching on ductile crack growth for welded joints is simulated also.

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