Predicting failure of the Second Sandia Fracture Challenge geometry with a real-world, time constrained, over-the-counter methodology

An over-the-counter methodology to predict fracture initiation and propagation in the challenge specimen of the Second Sandia Fracture Challenge is detailed herein. This pragmatic approach mimics that of an engineer subjected to real-world time constraints and unquantified uncertainty. First, during the blind prediction phase of the challenge, flow and failure locus curves were calibrated for Ti–6Al–4V with provided tensile and shear test data for slow (0.0254 mm/s) and fast (25.4 mm/s) loading rates. Thereafter, these models were applied to a 3D finite-element mesh of the non-standardized challenge geometry with nominal dimensions to predict, among other items, crack path and specimen response. After the blind predictions were submitted to Sandia National Labs, they were improved upon by addressing anisotropic yielding, damage initiation under shear dominance, and boundary condition selection.