On the high stress gradient and failure analysis of dovetail attachments

Studies reveals that high stress gradient exists near the edges of contact in dovetail attachment, of which the numerical solution to contact stress depends on finite element (FE) mesh density. So a set of FE models with different mesh of dovetail attachment were used to analyze the effect of FE modeling on improving the solving accuracy of contact stress. Then the effect due to elasticity and plasticity of materials was discussed. On the basis of elastic-plastic contact stress, a fracture model on the part with high stress gradient was established by means of fracture mechanics, which can be used to determine the direction of crack initiation and propagation and more to evaluate the structural strength and lives.