Abstract: A 3-D computationalframework was suggested to model stable growth of a macroscopic crack under model I condition. The Gurson-Tverpaaof dilatant plasticity model for voided materials describes the damage process. Fixed-sized, computational cell elements (containing voids) defined over a thin layer at the cmck plane simulate the ductile crack extension. Outside of this layer, the material remains undamaged by the void growth. The micro-mechanics parumeters controlling cmck growth are the thickness Of computational cell layen D, and the initial void porosity, fo. These parameters are calculated through analyses of ductile tearing to match R-curve obtained from testing of deep notch bend specimens for welded joints. The R-curve for the double edge notched tension specimens is eNctively predicted using these pammeters.The predicted R-curve gives a good agreement with the expemment results.

Key words: ductile crack growth, R-curve, computational cell model