AFGROW (Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Crack Growth Analysis Software)

Welcome to the official home page of the AFGROW Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Crack Growth Analysis software tool. This site contains all of the information one needs to use AFGROW effectively. Using the menu on the left of this page you can download the latest version, research the history of AFGROW, and study verification data. Current Version: 4.0011.14 The current release includes several bug fixes and enhancements. For more detailed information please visit our downloads page. New Users If you are new to AFGROW we recomend that you start in the support section of our site where you can get information about AFGROW's extensive documentation, training information, and the Frequently Asked Questions page (F.A.Q.). About AFGROW AFGROW is the Air Force Growth (AFGROW) crack life prediction software tool that allows users to analyze crack initiation, fatigue crack growth, fracture, and assess the life of metallic structures. AFGROW is one of the fastest and most efficient crack life prediction tools available today. AFGROW is mainly used for aerospace applications; however it can be applied to any type of metallic structure that experiences fatigue cracking. AFGROW is also a very user-friendly computer program. The stress intensity factor library provides models for over 30 different crack geometries (including tension, bending and bearing loading for many cases). In addition, an advanced, multiple crack capability allows AFGROW to analyze two independent cracks in a plate (including hole effects), non-symmetric corner cracked. Finite Element (FE) based solutions are available for two, non-symmetric through cracks at holes as well as cracks growing toward holes. This capability allows AFGROW to handle cases with more than one crack growing from a row of fastener holes. AFGROW implements five different material models (Forman Equation, Walker Equation, Tabular lookup, Harter-T Method and NASGRO Equation) to determine crack growth per applied cyclic loading. Other AFGROW user options include five load interaction (retardation) models (Closure, FASTRAN, Hsu, Wheeler, and Generalized Willenborg), a strain-life based fatigue crack initiation model, and the ability to perform a crack growth analysis with the effect of the bonded repair. AFGROW also includes useful tools such as: user-defined stress intensity solutions, user-defined beta modification factors (ability to estimate stress intensity factors for cases, which may not be an exact match for one of the stress intensity solutions in the AFGROW library), a residual stress analysis capability, cycle counting, and the ability to automatically transfer output data to Microsoft Excel. AFGROW provides COM (Component Object Model) Automation interfaces that allow users to build scripts in other Windows applications to perform repetitive tasks or control AFGROW from their applications. AFGROW also has new plug-in crack geometry interface that allows AFGROW to interface with any structural analysis program capable of calculating stress intensity factors (K) in the Windows environment. Users may create their own stress intensity solutions by writing and compiling dynamic link libraries (DLLs) using relatively simple codes. This includes the ability to animate the crack growth as is done in all other native AFGROW solutions. This interface also makes it possible for FE analysis software to feed AFGROW three-dimensional based stress intensity information throughout the crack life prediction process, allowing for a tremendous amount of analytical flexibility. AFGROW Forum The AFGROW Forum provides an opportunity for users to ask questions and/or discuss any issues related to AFGROW. If you have an AFGROW relaated question, the Forum is a good place to begin looking for the answer since it is possible that your question may have been previously discussed. In addition, AFGROW announcements (new releases, training opportunities, etc.) are e-mailed to all those who have registered as an AFGROW user. Only registered Forum users members of AFGROW Group may post on the AFGROW Forum. Useful Links Make sure to check out the following pages for useful information. All pages are also available from the menu on the left. Support->Knowledge Base Also, visit the VASM Portal page to access our User Forum and find out about VASM's other projects. Note from the Developers As the developers of AFGROW it is our responsibility to provide you with the best quality software that time and funding allow. So please feel free to send us your comments.