Modeling quasi-static crack growth with the extended finite element method Part II: Numerical applications

In Part I [Int. J. Solids Struct., 2003], we described the implementation of the extended finite element method (X-FEM) within Dynaflow™, a standard finite element package. In our implementation, we focused on two-dimensional crack modeling in linear elasticity. For crack modeling in the X-FEM, a discontinuous function and the near-tip asymptotic functions are added to the finite element approximation using the framework of partition of unity. This permits the crack to be represented without explicitly meshing the crack surfaces and crack propagation simulations can be carried out without the need for any remeshing. In this paper, we present numerical solutions for the stress intensity factor for crack problems, and also conduct crack growth simulations with the X-FEM. Numerical examples are presented with a two-fold objective: first to show the efficacy of the X-FEM implementation in Dynaflow™; and second to demonstrate the accuracy and versatility of the method to solve challenging problems in computational failure mechanics.     

广义扩展有限元法及其在裂纹扩展分析中的应用

结合广义有限元法(GFEM)和扩展有限元法(XFEM)的特点,提出了一种新的数值方法——广义扩展有限元法(GXFEM)。阐述了广义扩展有限元法的基本原理,对相关公式进行推导,探讨数值实施中需注意的重要问题,给出利用广义扩展有限元法进行断裂分析时应力强度因子的计算方法,编写了广义扩展有限元法程序。通过算例进行了应力强度因子的计算,模拟了结构裂纹的扩展过程。算例结果表明,利用广义扩展有限元法计算裂纹扩展问题,不需要进行过密的网格划分,且网格在裂纹扩展后无需重新剖分,具有相当高的计算精度。     

扩展有限元裂尖场精度研究

论述了扩展有限元方法和基本原理,研究了单元类型(四边形单元和三角形单元、线性单元和二次单元)、网格密度、J积分区域半径等因素对裂尖局部应力场(应力强度因子)计算精度的影响。研究发现,上述因素对裂尖应力强度因子计算的收敛速度与稳定性影响不大,证实了XFEM可以用较少的节点获得较高的裂尖场精度,并提出了通过固定裂尖附加区半径可以进一步改善XFEM的收敛速度。     

基于扩展有限元法的裂尖场精度研究

扩展有限元方法基于单元分解的基本思想,通过引入位移加强函数来表征裂纹的不连续性和裂尖的奇异性。在裂尖加强单元与常规单元之间有一层混合单元,当对裂尖特定区域进行加强时,混合单元个数相应增加,混合单元个数与计算精度存在一定联系。本文提出一种正方形裂尖加强区域的选择方式,可得到较单个加强和圆形加强精度更高、更稳定的计算结果。对于不同长度的裂纹,表征裂尖场奇异性所需的裂尖加强范围存在较大差异,以正方形裂尖加强方式进行计算,得到了不同裂纹长度下最优的加强尺寸。     

On a new extended finite element method for dislocations: Core enrichment and nonlinear formulation

A recently developed finite element method for the modeling of dislocations is improved by adding enrichments in the neighborhood of the dislocation core. In this method, the dislocation is modeled by a line or surface of discontinuity in two or three dimensions. The method is applicable to nonlinear and anisotropic materials, large deformations, and complicated geometries. Two separate enrichments are considered: a discontinuous jump enrichment and a singular enrichment based on the closed-form, infinite-domain solutions for the dislocation core. Several examples are presented for dislocations constrained in layered materials in 2D and 3D to illustrate the applicability of the method to interface problems.     

基于扩展有限元法的混凝土细观断裂破坏过程模拟

扩展有限元法（XFEM）是分析不连续力学问题（特别是断裂问题）的一种有效的数值方法。在常规的有限元位移模式中,基于单位分解的思想加入一个跳跃函数和渐进缝尖位移场来对不连续体附近的节点自由度进行局部加强,从而反映了位移的不连续性。介绍了扩展有限元的基本原理,给出了扩展有限元进行混凝土开裂及裂纹扩展的分析方法,最后采用扩展有限元法模拟了湿筛混凝土单轴拉伸作用下及WinklerL-型混凝土板的细观断裂破坏过程。分析了混凝土裂纹萌生、扩展的过程及破坏形态,数值结果与实验结果吻合良好。研究表明：扩展有限元法通过特定的位移模式,使裂纹两侧不连续位移场的表达独立于网格划分,能有效地模拟混凝土材料细观断裂破坏过程。     

Mesoscopic characterization and modeling of microcracking in cementitious materials by the extended finite element method

This study develops a mesoscopic framework and methodology for the modeling of microcracks in concrete. A new algorithm is first proposed for the generation of random concrete meso-structure including microcracks and then coupled with the extended finite element method to simulate the heterogeneities and discontinuities present in the meso-structure of concrete. The proposed procedure is verified and exemplified by a series of numerical simulations. The simulation results show that microcracks can exert considerable impact on the fracture performance of concrete. More broadly, this work provides valuable insight into the initiation and propagation mechanism of microcracks in concrete and helps to foster a better understanding of the micro-mechanical behavior of cementitious materials.     

Thermoelastic analysis of multiple defects with the extended finite element method

In this paper, the extended finite element method (XFEM) is adopted to analyze the interaction between a sin-gle macroscopic inclusion and a single macroscopic crack as well as that between multiple macroscopic or micro-scopic defects under thermal/mechanical load. The effects of different shapes of multiple inclusions on the material thermomechanical response are investigated, and the level set method is coupled with XFEM to analyze the interaction of multiple defects. Further, the discretized extended finite element approximations in relation to thermoelastic prob-lems of multiple defects under displacement or temperature field are given. Also, the interfaces of cracks or materials are represented by level set functions, which allow the mesh assignment not to conform to crack or material interfaces. Moreover, stress intensity factors of cracks are obtained by the interaction integral method or the M-integral method, and the stress/strain/stiffness fields are simulated in the case of multiple cracks or multiple inclusions. Finally, some numer-ical examples are provided to demonstrate the accuracy of our proposed method.     

PARTITION OF UNITY FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR SHORT WAVE PROPAGATION IN SOLIDS

IntroductionIt is known that standard finite element procedure is unable to simulate the wavepropagation with high oscillations or gradients in space in the media with reasonableefficiency and accuracy due to the nature of polynomial interpolation approxi…     

一种新的计算各向异性材料裂纹尖端应力强度因子杂交元法

利用有限元特征分析法研究了平面各向异性材料裂纹端部的奇性应力指数以及应力场和位移场的角分布函数,以此构造了一个新的裂纹尖端单元。文中利用该单元建立了研究裂纹尖端奇性场的杂交应力模型,并结合Hellinger-Reissner变分原理导出应力杂交元方程,建立了求解平面各向异性材料裂纹尖端问题的杂交元计算模型。与四节点单元相结合,由此提出了一种新的求解应力强度因子的杂交元法。最后给出了在平面应力和平面应变下求解裂纹尖端奇性场的算例。算例表明,本文所述方法不仅精度高,而且适应性强。     

A finite element method for the one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new finite element method for Nwogu's (O. Nwogu, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 119 , 618–638 (1993)) one‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear element spatial discretisation method coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The accuracy of the scheme is compared to that of an existing finite difference method (G. Wei and J.T. Kirby, ASCE J. Waterw., Port, Coast., Ocean Eng., 121 , 251–261 (1995)) by considering the truncation error at a node. Numerical tests with solitary and regular waves propagating in variable depth environments are compared with theoretical and experimental data. The accuracy of the results confirms the analytical prediction and shows that the new approach competes well with existing finite difference methods. The finite element formulation is shown to enable the method to be extended to irregular meshes in one dimension and has the potential to allow for extension to the important practical case of unstructured triangular meshes in two dimensions. This latter case is discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element method for the two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations

A new numerical method for Nwogu's (ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering 1993; 119 :618)two‐dimensional extended Boussinesq equations is presented using a linear triangular finite element spatial discretization coupled with a sophisticated adaptive time integration package. The authors have previously presented a finite element method for the one‐dimensional form of these equations (M. Walkley and M. Berzins (International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 1999; 29 (2):143)) and this paper describes the extension of these ideas to the two‐dimensional equations and the application of the method to complex geometries using unstructured triangular grids. Computational results are presented for two standard test problems and a realistic harbour model. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

固体中短波传播单位分解有限元法的解析积分

针对固体中短波传播数值模拟的单位分解有限元法中单元矩阵积分的被积函数的强烈振荡特性,应用直角坐标系下标准有限元形函数和单元内的波动方向知识提出了一种单元矩阵的解析积分方案。它对于平面三,六,四,八和九节点的直边单位分解有限单元是完全解析的,对于与这些单元相应的曲边单元则是半解析的。数值结果显示所提出的积分方案在计算效率上比高斯-勒让德积分有大幅度提高。     

PARAMETRIC VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLE BASED ELASTIC-PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF HETEROGENEOUS MATERIALS WITH VORONOI FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

The Voronoi cell finite element method (VCFEM) is adopted to overcome the limitations of the classic displacement based finite element method in the numerical simulation of heterogeneous materials. The parametric variational principle and quadratic programming method are developed for elastic-plastic Voronoi finite element analysis of two-dimensional problems. Finite element formulations are derived and a standard quadratic programming model is deduced from the elastic-plastic equations. Influence of microscopic heterogeneities on the overall mechanical response of heterogeneous materials is studied in detail. The overall properties of heterogeneous materials depend mostly on the size, shape and distribution of the material phases of the microstructure. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the method developed.     

Effective non-reflective boundary for Lamb waves: Theory,finite element implementation,and applications

This article presents a new approach to designing non-reflective boundary (NRB) for inhibiting Lamb wave reflections at structural boundaries. Our NRB approach can be effectively and conveniently implemented in commercial finite element (FE) codes. The paper starts with a review of the state of the art: (a) the absorbing layers by increasing damping (ALID) approach; and (b) the Lysmer–Kuhlemeyer absorbing boundary conditions (LK ABC) approach is briefly presented and its inadequacy for Lamb wave applications is explained. Hence, we propose a modified Lysmer–Kuhlemeyer approach to be used in the NRB design for Lamb wave problems; we call our approach MLK NRB. The implementation of this MLK NRB was realized using the spring–damper elements which are available in most commercial FE codes. Optimized implementation parameters are developed in order to achieve the best performance for Lamb wave absorption. Our MLK NRB approach is compared with the state of the art ALID and LK ABC methods. Our MLK NRB shows better performance than ALID and LK ABC for all Lamb modes in the thin-plate structures considered in our examples. Our MLK NRB approach is also advantageous at low frequencies and at cut-off frequencies, where extremely long wavelengths exist. A comprehensive study with various design parameters and plate thicknesses which illustrates the advantages and limitations of our MLK NRB approach is presented. MLK NRB applications for both transient analysis in time domain and harmonic analysis in frequency domain are illustrated. The article finishes with conclusions and suggestions for future work.     

基于扩展有限元的地质聚合物混凝土断裂过程研究

扩展有限元法是基于常规有限元框架分析裂纹等不连续力学问题的一种有效数值方法,在常规的有限元位移表达式中,增加了能够反映位移不连续性的跳跃函数和渐进缝尖位移场函数来对不连续结构附近的节点自由度进行局部加强。本文介绍了扩展有限元法及粘聚力模型的基本原理,给出了基于扩展有限元法的地质聚合物混凝土断裂过程分析方法。分别采用四种不同的软化曲线对I型缺口地质聚合物混凝土梁从裂纹萌生、扩展直至断裂破坏的全过程进行了模拟,并基于双K断裂准则分析了其断裂韧性。结果表明,Petersson模型与试验结果吻合较好,最后基于模拟结果进一步揭示了断裂过程区的演化过程。     

Coupling the finite element method and molecular dynamics in the framework of the heterogeneous multiscale method for quasi-static isothermal problems

Multiscale models are designed to handle problems with different length scales and time scales in a suitable and efficient manner. Such problems include inelastic deformation or failure of materials. In particular, hierarchical multiscale methods are computationally powerful as no direct coupling between the scales is given. This paper proposes a hierarchical two-scale setting appropriate for isothermal quasi-static problems: a macroscale treated by continuum mechanics and the finite element method and a microscale modelled by a canonical ensemble of statistical mechanics solved with molecular dynamics. This model will be implemented into the framework of the heterogeneous multiscale method. The focus is laid on an efficient coupling of the macro- and micro-solvers. An iterative solution algorithm presents the macroscopic solver, which invokes for each iteration an atomistic computation. As the microscopic computation is considered to be very time consuming, two optimisation strategies are proposed. Firstly, the macroscopic solver is chosen to reduce the number of required iterations to a minimum. Secondly, the number of time steps used for the time average on the microscale will be increased with each iteration. As a result, the molecular dynamics cell will be allowed to reach its state of thermodynamic equilibrium only in the last macroscopic iteration step. In the preceding iteration steps, the molecular dynamics cell will reach a state close to equilibrium by using considerably fewer microscopic time steps. This adapted number of microsteps will result in an accelerated algorithm (aFE-MD-HMM) obtaining the same accuracy of results at significantly reduced computational cost. Numerical examples demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme.     

A finite thickness band method for ductile fracture analysis

We present a finite element method with a finite thickness embedded weak discontinuity to analyze ductile fracture problems. The formulation is restricted to small geometry changes. The material response is characterized by a constitutive relation for a progressively cavitating elastic–plastic solid. As voids nucleate, grow and coalesce, the stiffness of the material degrades. An embedded weak discontinuity is introduced when the condition for loss of ellipticity is met. The resulting localized deformation band is given a specified thickness which introduces a length scale thus providing a regularization of the post-localization response. Also since the constitutive relation for a progressively cavitation solid is used inside the band in the post-localization regime, the traction-opening relation across the band depends on the stress triaxiality. The methodology is illustrated through several example problems including mode I crack growth and localization and failure in notched bars. Various finite element meshes and values of the thickness of the localization band are used in the calculations to illustrate the convergence with mesh refinement and the dependence on the value chosen for the localization band thickness.     

Faults simulations for three-dimensional reservoir-geomechanical models with the extended finite element method

Faults are geological entities with thicknesses several orders of magnitude smaller than the grid blocks typically used to discretize reservoir and/or over-under-burden geological formations. Introducing faults in a complex reservoir and/or geomechanical mesh therefore poses significant meshing difficulties. In this paper, we consider the strong-coupling of solid displacement and fluid pressure in a three-dimensional poro-mechanical (reservoir-geomechanical) model. We introduce faults in the mesh without meshing them explicitly, by using the extended finite element method (X-FEM) in which the nodes whose basis function support intersects the fault are enriched within the framework of partition of unity. For the geomechanics, the fault is treated as an internal displacement discontinuity that allows slipping to occur using a Mohr–Coulomb type criterion. For the reservoir, the fault is either an internal fluid flow conduit that allows fluid flow in the fault as well as to enter/leave the fault or is a barrier to flow (sealing fault). For internal fluid flow conduits, the continuous fluid pressure approximation admits a discontinuity in its normal derivative across the fault, whereas for an impermeable fault, the pressure approximation is discontinuous across the fault. Equal-order displacement and pressure approximations are used. Two- and three-dimensional benchmark computations are presented to verify the accuracy of the approach, and simulations are presented that reveal the influence of the rate of loading on the activation of faults.