Stress Intensity Factor in Top-loaded Thin Hemispherical Domes: A Combined Experimental and Numerical Study

Abstract

Measuring the stress intensity factors (SIF) at the tip of the meridian cracks of a dome can help evaluate the fracture process. The calculation of the SIF for planar cracks, based on truncating the Williams' series expansion, can be extended to curved surface cracks using the equivalent plane transformation method. This study investigates the effects of dimensions, crack length, and distributed loading area on the SIF at the crack tip, both experimentally and numerically. The results show that dimensionless SIFs generally increase with the crack length, distributed loading area and thickness ratio (thickness/ radius). The distribution load prevents any tension within the contact zone and suppresses top-surface radial cracking. The effect becomes more pronounced as the model thickness increases. Within the bearing capacity limits, designing a wide loading edge can effectively inhibit the propagation of meridian cracks and increase the service life of the dome.