Mode I fatigue crack growth is modelled and investigated with a cohesive zone approach. A 2D finite element boundary layer model under plane strain and small scale yielding conditions is used to generate fatigue crack growth rate curves. This study focuses on the FE model generation with the aim to obtain reliable data of fatigue crack growth rates with computational costs kept as low as possible. In particular, this con- cerns the choice of geometric quantities of the boundary layer, appropriate mesh sizes and meshing strategies, and the time incrementation. In order to save resource consump- tion regarding computing time, licenses and memory, the ABAQUS URDFIL interface is used to observe the progress of fatigue crack growth, to control time incrementation and output generation, and to stop the
simulation once a stable fatigue crack growth rate is reached. The latter is characterised by a constant amount of dissipated energy per load cycle and steady-state damage and stress profiles in the ligament. Different crack length definitions evaluating both profiles are compared. The resulting fatigue crack growth rate curves including threshold value, static failure load, and Paris region, qualitatively match experimental observations
