Page 68 - Global Power Turkish Defence Industry

DEFENSE-RELATED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

AT SAKARYA UNIVERSITY

As is the case for many government and private sector organizations, specific focus is being given at
Sakarya University for research and national technical know-know development that have the potential to
be used for defense-related targets of our country going to 2023 and beyond. For this purpose, a vision is
being established that will give priority to defense-related scientific research and development projects.
As part of this vision, protocols have been signed between The Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB)
and ten leading defense companies, within the frame of “The Researcher Training Program for Defense
Industry (SAYP)”. While this vision, for serving the defense industry with our intellectual and laboratory/
infrastructure capabilities, continues to develop, to assess capabilities and to make projections for
future, some of the research activities that achieved certain level of matureness are summarized in this
article.
Computational and Experimental Fracture Mechanics
Since 2008, the Computational and Experimental Fracture Mechanics (CEFM) Laboratory team has
been working on investigations of three-dimensional mode-I and mixed mode crack propagation and
fracture problems using numerical and experimental techniques. Fracture and Crack Propagation
Analysis System (FCPAS) initially focused on numerical modeling of mode-I fatigue crack propagation
problems on basic geometries and loading conditions. Having completed this initial phase, mode-I crack
propagation simulation capabilities are applied on more complex geometries and loadings encountered
in practice. More importantly, new capabilities were developed for simulation of three-dimensional
non-planar mixed mode crack growth, in combination with non-standard experimental techniques and
equipment, including an MTS 100-kN tension, 1100 N.m torsion fatigue test machine. The integrated
numerical and experimental studies led to the development of new and improved test system for mixed
mode fracture and the related criteria (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Computational and experimental mixed mode crack propagation capabilities.
Currently, the team works on further simulations of mixed mode three-dimensional non-planar fatigue crack
growth problems seen in practice and their validations. The main focus is being given on probabilistic fracture
mechanics in three-dimensions using both numerical modeling, simulation and experimental techniques.
With the interactive numerical and experimental work, a three-dimensional probabilistic fracture mechanics
methodology is aimed to be developed. Further information related to CEFM Lab and FCPAS can be obtained by
visiting laboratory web-page at www.cefmlab.sakarya.edu.tr.

68 TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY