Analysis of the Fatigue Crack Evolution of Corrugated Web Girders

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

¿Why it was not included any fractured element after crack propagation? It Will be interesting, for instance, to compare the real path of the crack with the simulations shown in Figure 10.

The paper edition should be improved. i.e., sub-indexes must be checked, epigraphs titles shouldn't be alone in the end of a page, …

Figure 5 should be improved, presenting it in a better definition.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The work deals with the study of the linear elastic fracture mechanics behaviour to assess the fatigue crack evolution and fatigue behaviour of corrugated web girders. To do this finite element analysis was performed.

The research is interesting as this is developed on a component, even if in my opinion, it miss some important information to be provided:

Section 2.2:

·         Please provide more information on crack front: which hypothesis you made, which was the geometry of the front adopted and why.

·         The crack tip which propagation determines the crack front is in general circular for ductile material (described by Irwin radius) but in some others cases it is not circular. The crack tip is region of plasticisations, the way to plasticise however, is different from material to material. How did you take into account this?

Section 3:

·         How did you define the load for fatigue? How did you measure the crack experimentally?

·         Please provide the loading table.

·         Did you make any static tests on component to assess static properties?

·         To make more accurate results more samples and replications are required.

·         Please show the real component as well as experimental equipment and setup, even if it probably was presented in previous research.

·         Did you take into account crack closure effect in the simulations?

Section 4:

·         Figure 10 would be associated to the real fractured component

·         The experimental path have to be add to the figures from 11 to 18 in order to increase the soundness of the research

I suggest furthermore to couple experimental tests and simulation with another experimental technique such as the Digital Imaging Correlation or Thermoelastic Stress Analysis based on Infrared Thermography. These techniques can support in validating and understanding the complex phenomena involved in fatigue and fracture mechanics behaviour.

Author Response

Please see the attachment, thank you！

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

No comments 

Reviewer 2 Report