An Extended Finite Element Method Study on the Effect of Reinforcing Particles on the Fatigue Crack Propagation Behavior of Functionally Graded Plates

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.

Abstract

In this work, it is looked into how adding silicon nitride (Si3N4) particles into Functionally Graded Material (FGM) plates affects their resistance to fracture propagation. A comprehensive numerical study is performed using the extended finite element method (XFEM) implemented in the Abaqus software to investigate the impacts of different Si3N4 particle characteristics, including geometry, size, and volume percentage, on the fatigue behavior of FGM plates. The results indicate that these variables have a significant influence on the fracture formation rate and overall fatigue life of the FGM. Specifically, square Si3N4 particles displayed higher efficiency in arresting crack development compared to alternative shapes, which was attributable to their optimal stress distribution. Results show that adding 10, 20, and 30 weight percent of square Si3N4 particles with a side length of 0.89 μm to the FGM increased the fatigue life by 70.47, 57.69, and 53.79 percent, respectively, compared to the case without reinforcing particles. Furthermore, increasing the volume percentage of Si3N4 particles while concurrently reducing their size resulted in a significant gain in both fatigue life and overall strength of the FGM plates. These findings highlight the potential of Si3N4-reinforced FGMs as a highly effective method for reducing fatigue-induced damage and increasing the service life of engineering components. The findings of this study provide useful insights for the design and optimization of FGM-based structures under cyclic loading conditions.

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References

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AUT Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 9, Issue 3
July 2025
Pages 295-316

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