Large deflection analysis of edge cracked simple supported beams

This paper focuses on large deflection static behavior of edge cracked simple supported beams subjected to a non-follower transversal point load at the midpoint of the beam by using the total Lagrangian Timoshenko beam element approximation. The cross section of the beam is circular. The cracked beam is modeled as an assembly of two sub-beams connected through a massless elastic rotational spring. It is known that large deflection problems are geometrically nonlinear problems. The considered highly nonlinear problem is solved considering full geometric non-linearity by using incremental displacement-based finite element method in conjunction with Newton-Raphson iteration method. There is no restriction on the magnitudes of deflections and rotations in contradistinction to von-Karman strain displacement relations of the beam. The beams considered in numerical examples are made of Aluminum. In the study, the effects of the location of crack and the depth of the crack on the non-linear static response of the beam are investigated in detail. The relationships between deflections, end rotational angles, end constraint forces, deflection configuration, Cauchy stresses of the edge-cracked beams and load rising are illustrated in detail in nonlinear case. Also, the difference between the geometrically linear and nonlinear analysis of edge-cracked beam is investigated in detail.