Modifying data for contour integrals

If desired, you can modify the entities that you selected to define the crack front, the crack tip, and the crack extension direction that will be used to define a contour integral. You can also specify that the crack front is defined on a symmetry plane that models only half of the structure and flip the calculated crack extension direction, if desired. For more information, see Symmetry with the conventional finite element method.

  1. Display the Crack editor using one of the following methods:

    • To configure a new contour integral, follow the instructions in Creating a contour integral crack.

    • To edit an existing contour integral, select SpecialCrackEditcrack name from the main menu bar in the Interaction module.

  2. Toggle on On symmetry plane (half-crack model) to specify that the crack front is defined on a symmetry plane that models only half of the structure. Abaqus doubles the change in potential energy calculated from the virtual crack front advance to compute the correct contour integral values.

  3. If desired, click to modify your selection of entities that define the crack front, crack tip, or crack line. If Abaqus/CAE selected the crack tip or crack line region to be the same as the crack front, you cannot edit the selection.

  4. If desired, change the method for defining the crack extension direction. You can also click to modify your selection of entities that define the crack extension direction.

  5. If desired, you can click to confirm or flip the calculated crack extension direction. In the prompt area, click Yes to confirm the q-vector direction or click Flip to reverse the direction.

  6. Click OK to configure the contour integral and to close the editor.

    Abaqus displays green crosses on the region to represent the crack front.

    You must use the History Output Request editor in the Step module to include the contour integral data in the output database generated by the analysis. For more information, see Contour integral output, and Modifying history output requests.