An analysis of crack growth in thin-sheet metal via a cohesive zone model

A cohesive zone model (CZM) is applied to crack growth in thin sheet metal. CZM parameters are determined from results of global measurements and micromechanical damage models. Crack propagation in constrained center-cracked panels is analyzed to verify the choice of CZM parameters. Special attention is paid to the interaction between buckling and crack growth and to crack link-up in multi-site damaged specimens. The good agreement found between the predicted and experimental data demonstrates that the approach is attractive in investigation of structural integrity of thin-walled structures and does not require assumptions regarding the geometry and size dependence of crack growth parameters.