IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 2 | Issue 12 | June 2016

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Variation of Crack Propagation in Cantilever

Beam under Force Vibration
JN Mahto
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
BIT Sindri, Dhanbad,Jharkhand

SC Roy
Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
BIT Sindri, Dhanbad,Jharkhand

R S Prasad
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
RKGIT, Ghaziabad, U.P.

Abstract
A mathematical model has been developed to observe effect of crack on vibrating cantilever beam under forced vibrating
conditions. Six variables considered in the present investigation and were correlated through dimensional analysis. Three
dimensionless groups were obtained and were found pure numbers determined by the specific values of the defined problem
parameters. Anticipation of behaviour of vibrating cantilever beam was made simple by assuming crack growth rate of the order
of 0.01 micrometer/hour. Using the calculated values of G and experimental values of V, B, F, D, the values of threedimensional groups were calculated to know the characteristics behaviour of vibrating cantilever beam of Aluminium.
Aluminium of 500mm x 50mm x 12mm were used to assure more prominent behaviour during experimental work. Readings
were observed for the measurement of considered parameters of the beam at defined positions and different frequency.
Experiments were conducted for the fixing length, 400mm of specimen. The value of crack growth rate and velocity for
frequency 60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz and 120 Hz for various positions (i.e., 50 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm, 200 mm and 250 mm from the
free end) of single accelerometer were compared and plotted to conclude.
Keywords: Cantilever Beam, Crack Growth rate, Crack Location, Vibration, Accelerometer, Frequency
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I.

INTRODUCTION

Crack growth rate is very critical parameter to know the behaviour of the beam and also to predict the life of a vibrating
cantilever beam. It is very important to introduce a controlled vibration into a cantilever beam system at one point to measure
and compare the resulting vibration, which appears at another point. This input vibration varies in frequency, velocity, and crack
growth rate at different position from free end along the beam. Acceleration and associated vibratory variables belong to the vast
amount of physical quantities subjected to measurement and analysis by various means. In the recent past it has been observed
that both crack location and crack depth has noticeable effect on the modal parameters of the cracked beam [1]. The transverse
crack is also modelled in a beam as rotational spring having stiffness of negligible mass [2]. For the computational convenience
lumped mass matrix instead of consistent mass matrix is considered. The applications of Wavelet Transform to detect crack-like
damage in structures are demonstrated [3, 4]. Past researches [5, 6] have discussed two alternative techniques to assess the
potential lifetime of used products and their components: (a) End-of-Life testing of the product/components and (b) Analysis of
the operational data collected during the initial life. Several methodologies have been developed for the understanding of crack
propagation under mixed loading. For example, crack extension stability was studied by Cotterell [7,8] applying Eigen-function
series expansion.
II. MATHEMATICAL MODEL
As there are many interdependent variables involved, the observation for variation of one variable with respect to others was not
possible. To overcome the above difficulty, the theory of dimensional analysis approach has been utilized to obtain relationship
between parameters. Various parameters considered for present investigation were:
S. No.
1
2
3
4
5

Variables of Forced Vibration with Symbols and Dimensions

Variables
Symbols Dimensions
Velocity of Vibration
V
1
Force per unit cross sectional area
W
1 2
Distance of crack from fixed end
B

Frequency of the force per fixing length

F
1 1
Distance of the accelerometer from the free end
D

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Variation of Crack Propagation in Cantilever Beam under Force Vibration

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 12 / 045)

Crack growth per unit time

Here, the total number of variables = 6, number of fundamental units = 3, number of dimensionless group = 3, functional
relationship, (V, W, D, F, B, G) = 0. The derived groups were, V/(D2.F), B/D and G/(D2.F). The values of V/(D2.F), B/D and
G/(D2.F) were calculated for fixing length of 400 mm and at frequency of 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz. Graphs were plotted for
the specimens under forced vibration and were observed to compare and characterize the behaviour of the specimens.
III. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
A setup was fabricated and installed to mount the machined and heat treated specimens. Experiments were conducted to record
the observed values of velocity of vibration at different values of B, F and D. In present investigation, Aluminium was selected
for finalizing the shape of specimen. From chemical test report, the chemical composition of the material observed as: Al98.92%, Si-0.37 %, Mg- 0.457%, S-0.04 %, Fe- 0.16%, Ti- 0.014 Ni- 0.0037%, Ga-0.011%. Specimens were considered for
the present investigation with a dimensional value of 500mm x 50mm x 12mm. Horizontal grinding machine and abrasive cutter
was used to shape the material. Specimens were further processed through heat treatment process using automatic muffle
furnace. Fig. (1) represents the experimental setup. Specimen positioned as a cantilever beam over a base made of bricks and
cement. A vibrator positioned below the beam to generate different frequency. Accelerometer was placed over the beam to
observe the frequency of vibration along the beam length with the help of DSO. For every frequency value (i.e., 60, 80, 100, 120
Hz) measurement of displacement were recorded at distance (50mm, 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, 250mm) from free end of the
cantilever beam. Graphs were plotted to characterize the behaviour of vibrating cantilever beam.

Fig. 1: Block Diagram of Experimental Setup under Forced Vibration

60 Hz
80 Hz
100 Hz
120 Hz

Crack Growth rate, G ( micro-meter/hour)

1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
-200
50

100

150

200

250

Distance of the accelerometer from Free End, D (mm)

Fig. 2: Variation of the crack growth rate along the beam

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Variation of Crack Propagation in Cantilever Beam under Force Vibration

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 12 / 045)

Fig. 3: Variation of the dimensional group V/(D2.F) along the beam

0.07
60 Hz
80 Hz
100 Hz
120 Hz

0.06
0.05

G/(D2. F)
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
-0.01
50

100

150

200

250

Distance of the accelerometer from Free End, D (mm)

Fig. 4: Variation of the dimensional group G/(D2.F) along the beam

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Calculated crack growth rate for different locations of the accelerometer along the beam from free end were plotted as shown in
Fig.2 for frequency of 60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz and 120 Hz. The value of dimensional group V/(D2.F) varies along the beam from
free end of the vibrating cantilever beam can be observed in the graphs plotted for different frequency in Fig.3. From Fig.3 it can
be observed that the slop is decreasing and value of V/(D2.F) indicates different characteristics of the beam at 100mm of the
accelerometer position . In Fig.4, it can be observed that the value of G/(D2.F) also varies along the vibrating beam.

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Variation of Crack Propagation in Cantilever Beam under Force Vibration

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 12 / 045)

0.006

60 Hz
80 Hz
100 Hz
120 Hz

0.005

V/(D .F)

0.004

0.003

0.002

0.001

0.000

B/D

Fig. 5: Variation in values of dimensional group V/(D2.F) against values of dimensional group B/D.

0.07
0.06

60 Hz
80 Hz
100 Hz
120 Hz

0.05

G/(D .F)

0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
-0.01
0

B/D

Fig. 6: Variation in values of dimensional group G/(D2.F) against values of dimensional group B/D.

From Fig.4 it can be observed that the slop is increasing and value of the dimensional group characterizes different behaviour
of vibrating beam for the value of D at 200mm. Fig.5 and Fig.6 can be used to find, relationship between the three dimensional
groups. Fig.5 is a plot between the dimensional group V/(D2.F) and B/D where as Fig.6 is a plot between the dimensional group
G/(D2.F) and B/D at different frequency. Sudden change in the curves of V/(D 2.F) and G/(D2.F) for the values of B/D indicates
different behaviour of the beam.
V. CONCLUSIONS
From Fig.2 it is possible to predict the crack growth rate along the beam from free end to fixed end at different frequency. Also,
it is possible to correlate three dimensional groups by taking out the values of V/(D2.F) and G/(D2.F) for particular value of B/D
in Fig.5 and Fig.6 respectively. From Fig.2 to Fig.6 it can be noted that as frequency increases crack growth rate increases and
the crack propagates from free end to fixed end.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]

A. K. Batabyal, P. Sankar and T. K. Paul Crack Detection in Cantilever Beam using Vibration Response, Vibration Problems ICOVP-2007, Springer
Netherlands, ISBN: 978-1-4020-9091-2 (print), p 27-33, Oct. 09, 2008.
S.Chinchalkar. Determination of Crack Location in Beams using Natural Frequencies. Journal of Sound and Vibration 247(3), pp 417-429, 2001.
A.V.Ovanesova, L.E.Suarez. Applications of Wavelet Transforms to Damage Detection in Frame Structure. Engineering Structure, Vol 26, pp 39-49, 2004.
Hansang Kim, Hani Melhem. Damage Detection of Structures by Wavelet Analysis. Engineering Structure, Vol 26, pp 347-362, 2004.

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Variation of Crack Propagation in Cantilever Beam under Force Vibration

(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 12 / 045)
[5]
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[7]
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Zhang, C., Chuckpaiwong, I., Liang, S.Y., Seth, B.B., 2002, Mechanical Component Lifetime Estimation Based on Accelerated Life Testing with
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B. Cotterell, 1965, On brittle fracture paths, Int. J. Fract. Mech. I, pp. 96-103.
B. Cotterell. 1966, Notes on the paths and stability of cracks, Int. J. Fract. Technol. 2, pp. 526-533.

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