A generalized cohesive element technique for arbitrary crack motion

A computational method for arbitrary crack motion through a finite element mesh, termed as the generalized cohesive element technique, is presented. In this method, an element with an internal discontinuity is replaced by two superimposed elements with a combination of original and imaginary nodes. Conventional cohesive zone modeling, limited to crack propagation along the edges of the elements, is extended to incorporate the intra-element mixed-mode crack propagation. Proposed numerical technique has been shown to be quite accurate, robust and mesh insensitive provided the cohesive zone ahead of the crack tip is resolved adequately. A series of numerical examples is presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed method.     

Finite Element Modelling of Cracks Based on the Partition of Unity Method

In this paper a finite element model for the analysis of brittle materials in the post cracking regime is presented. The model allows the representation of failure zones several times smaller than the structure itself using relatively coarse finite element meshes. The formulation is based on the partition of unity method. Discontinuous shape functions are used to enrich the continuous approximation of the displacement field where a crack has opened [2]. The magnitude of the displacement jump is determined by extra degrees of freedom at existing nodes. The crack path is completely independent of the structure of the mesh and is continuous across element boundaries. To model inelastic deformations around the crack tip a cohesive crack model is used. A representative numerical example illustrates the performance of the proposed model.     

A strong discontinuity based adaptive refinement approach for the modeling of crack branching

In the current work, the physical phenomena of dynamic fracture of brittle materials involving crack growth, acceleration and consequent branching is simulated. The numerical modeling is based on the approach where the failure in the form of cracks or shear bands is modeled by a jump in the displacement field, the so called ‘strong discontinuity’. The finite element method is employed with this strong discontinuity approach where each finite element is capable of developing a strong discontinuity locally embedded into it. The focus in this work is on branching phenomena which is modeled by an adaptive refinement method by solving a new sub-boundary value problem represented by a finite element at the growing crack tip. The sub-boundary value problem is subjected to a certain kinematic constraint on the boundary in the form of a linear deformation constraint. An accurate resolution of the state of material at the branching crack tip is achieved which results in realistic dynamic fracture simulations. A comparison of resulting numerical simulations is provided with the experiment of dynamic fracture from the literature. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A quasi-optimal convergence result for fracture mechanics with XFEM

The aim of this Note is to give a convergence result for a variant of the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) on cracked domains using a cut-off function to localize the singular enrichment area. The difficulty is caused by the discontinuity of the displacement field across the crack, but we prove that a quasi-optimal convergence rate holds in spite of the presence of elements cut by the crack. The global linear convergence rate is obtained by using an enriched linear finite element method. To cite this article: E. Chahine et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 342 (2006).     

平面弹性裂纹分析的一种有效边界元方法

提出了一种简单而有效的平面弹性裂纹应力强度因子的边界元计算方法．该方法由Crouch与Starfield建立的常位移不连续单元和闫相桥最近提出的裂尖位移不连续单元构成A·D2在该边界元方法的实施过程中,左、右裂尖位移不连续单元分别置于裂纹的左、右裂尖处,而常位移不连续单元则分布于除了裂尖位移不连续单元占据的位置之外的整个裂纹面及其它边界．算例(如单向拉伸无限大板中心裂纹、单向拉伸无限大板中圆孔与裂纹的作用)说明平面弹性裂纹应力强度因子的边界元计算方法是非常有效的．此外,还对双轴载荷作用下有限大板中方孔分支裂纹进行了分析．这一数值结果说明平面弹性裂纹应力强度因子的边界元计算方法对有限体中复杂裂纹的有效性,可以揭示双轴载荷及裂纹体几何对应力强度因子的影响．     

Analysis of arbitrarily shaped planar cracks in two-dimensional hexagonal quasicrystals with thermal effects. Part II: Numerical solutions

The extended displacement discontinuity (EDD) boundary element method is developed to analyze an arbitrarily shaped planar crack in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal quasicrystals (QCs) with thermal effects. The EDDs include the phonon and phason displacement discontinuities and the temperature discontinuity on the crack face. Green's functions for uniformly distributed EDDs over triangular and rectangular elements for 2D hexagonal QCs are derived. Employing the proposed EDD boundary element method, a rectangular crack is analyzed to verify the Green's functions by discretizing the crack with rectangular and triangular elements. Furthermore, the elliptical crack problem for 2D hexagonal QCs is investigated. Normal, tangential, and thermal loads are applied on the crack face, and the numerical results are presented graphically.     

Analysis of arbitrarily shaped planar cracks in two-dimensional hexagonal quasicrystals with thermal effects. Part I: Theoretical solutions

An extended displacement discontinuity (EDD) boundary integral equation method is proposed for analysis of arbitrarily shaped planar cracks in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal quasicrystals (QCs) with thermal effects. The EDDs include the phonon and phason displacement discontinuities and the temperature discontinuity on the crack surface. Green's functions for unit point EDDs in an infinite three-dimensional medium of 2D hexagonal QC are derived using the Hankel transform method. Based on the Green's functions and the superposition theorem, the EDD boundary integral equations for an arbitrarily shaped planar crack in an infinite 2D hexagonal QC body are established. Using the EDD boundary integral equation method, the asymptotic behavior along the crack front is studied and the classical singular index of 1/2 is obtained at the crack edge. The extended stress intensity factors are expressed in terms of the EDDs across crack surfaces. Finally, the energy release rate is obtained using the definitions of the stress intensity factors.     

A boundary element analysis for stress intensity factors of multiple circular arc cracks in a plane elasticity plate

In this paper, a numerical approach for analyzing interacting multiple cracks in infinite linear elastic media is presented. By extending Bueckner’s principle suited for a crack to a general system containing multiple interacting cracks, the original problem is divided into a homogeneous problem (the one without cracks) subjected to remote loads and a multiple crack problem in an unloaded body with applied tractions on the crack surfaces. Thus, the results in terms of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) can be obtained by considering the latter problem, which is analyzed easily by means of the displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements proposed recently by the author. Test examples are given to illustrate that the numerical approach is very accurate for analyzing interacting multiple cracks in an infinite linear elastic media under remote uniform stresses. In addition, the displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements is used to analyze a multiple crack problem in a finite plate. It is found that the boundary element method is also very accurate for investigating interacting multiple cracks in a finite plate. Specially, a generalization of Bueckner’s principle and the displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements are used to analyze multiple circular arc crack problems in infinite plate in tension (including: Two Collinear Circular Arc Cracks, Three Collinear Circular Arc Cracks, Two Parallel Circular Arc Cracks, Three Parallel Circular Arc Cracks and Two Circular Arc Cracks) in a plane elasticity plate. Many results are given.     

An Adaptive Finite Element Approach for Brittle Fracture

The extension of the finite element method to take discrete fracture and failure modes into account is a current field of research. In recent times, first results in terms of cohesive element formulations have been introduced into commercial applications. Such element formulations are able to cover the discrete behaviour of interfaces between different materials or the mechanical processes of thin layers. These approaches are not suitable for simulations with unknown crack paths in homogeneous materials, due to the initial elastic phase of the material formulation and the necessity to define potential crack paths a priori. The presented strategy starts with an unextended model and modifies the structure during the computations in terms of an adaptive procedure. The idea is to generate additional elements, based on the cohesive element formulation, to approximate arbitrary crack paths. For this purpose, a failure criterion is introduced. For nodes where the limiting value is reached, cohesive elements are introduced between the volume element boundaries of accordingly facets and corresponding nodes are duplicated. Necessary modifications for this application on system level as well as the element and the material formulation are introduced. By means of some numerical examples, the functionality of the presented procedure is demonstrated. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A Finite Element Approach for the Simulation of Quasi-Brittle Fracture

In the context of a strong discontinuity approach, we propose a finite element formulation with an embedded displacement discontinuity. The basic assumption of the proposed approach is the additive split of the total displacement field in a continuous and a discontinuous part. An arbitrary crack splits the linear triangular finite element into two parts, namely a triangular and a quadrilateral part. The discontinuous part of the displacement field in the quadrilateral portion is approximated using linear shape functions. For these purposes, the quadrilateral portion is divided into two triangular parts which is in this way similar to the approach proposed in [5]. In contrast, the discretisation is different compared to formulations proposed in [1] and [3], where the discontinuous part of the displacement field is approximated using bilinear shape functions. The basic theory of the underlying finite element formulation and a cohesive interface model to simulate brittle fracture are presented. By means of representative numerical examples differences and similarities of the present formulation and the formulations proposed in [1] and [3] are highlighted. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

不同功能梯度压电压磁层状介质中共线界面裂纹的动态性能分挝

对不同功能梯度压电压磁层状介质中,共线界面裂纹对简谐应力波作用下的动态问题,进行了分析.经Fourier变换,使问题的求解转换为求解以裂纹面上位移间断为未知量的三重对偶积分方程,三重对偶方程可以采用Schmidt方法来求解,进而分析了功能梯度参数、入射波频率和层状介质厚度对应力、电位移和磁通量强度因子的影响.     

Extended Finite Element Method for hygro-mechanical analysis of crack propagation in porous materials

In computational structural analyses, strong discontinuities, such as propagating cracks in concrete structures, joints in rocks or shear bands in soft soils, the highly accelerated moisture transport in the opening discontinuities has to be taken into account. The paper is concerned with an Extended Finite Element model for the numerical representation of crack propagation in partially saturated porous materials. Based on an extended variational formulation for the simulation of moisture transport in cracks, enhanced approximations of the displacement field and the moisture flux across the discontinuity are adopted. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Energy driven crack propagation at finite strains based on the embedded strong discontinuity approach

New advances in three-dimensional finite element modeling of crack propagation at finite strains are presented. The proposed numerical model is based on the Enhanced Assumed Strain concept. The enhanced part of the deformation gradient is associated with a displacement discontinuity. In contrast to previous works, a new, energy based criterion for crack propagation is presented. The necessity for a tracking algorithm for the crack path is avoided by using more than one discontinuity within each finite element. This leads to a strictly local formulation, i.e., no information about the neighboring elements are required. Further advantages of such a formulation are a symmetric tangent stiffness matrix and the reduction of locking effects. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An efficient finite element formulation based on the strong discontinuity approach for the modeling of material failure

A new finite element formulation based on the strong discontinuity approach is proposed. Following [1], localized inelastic deformations are represented as surfaces of discontinuous displacements within the respective finite element by applying the Enhanced Assumed Strain (EAS) concept. However, and in contrast to previous publications, the jump part of the displacement field is not condensed out at the element level by employing static condensation. Instead, the L₂‐orthogonality condition is reformulated resulting in an equation which is formally identical to the necessary condition of yielding known from standard plasticity theory. Hence, it is possible to apply the return‐mapping algorithm to the numerical implementation. Only slight modifications of this by now classical algorithm are necessary. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling quasi-static crack growth with the embedded finite element method on multiple levels

The current work presents the multilevel approach of the embedded finite element method which is obtained by combining features of the method of domain decomposition with those of the standard embedded finite element method. The conventional requirement of fine mesh in a possible failure zone is rendered unnecessary with the new approach thereby reducing the computational expense. In addition, it is also possible to stop a propagating crack-tip in the middle of a finite element. In this approach, the finite elements at the failure-prone zone where cracks or shear bands, referred to as strong discontinuities which represent jumps in the displacement field, can form and propagate based on some failure criterion are treated as separate sub-boundary value problems which are adaptively discretized during the run time into a number of sub-elements and subjected to a kinematic constraint on their boundary. Each sub-element becomes equally capable of developing a strong discontinuity depending upon its state of stress. A linear displacement based constraint is applied initially which is modified accordingly as soon as a strong discontinuity propagates through the boundary of the main finite element. At the local equilibrium, the coupling between the quantities at two different levels of discretization is obtained by matching the virtual energies due to admissible variations of the main finite element and its constituent sub-elements. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulation of short crack propagation using a hybrid boundary element technique

Service life of cyclically loaded components is often determined by the propagation of short fatigue cracks, which is highly influenced by microstructural features such as grain boundaries. A two-dimensional model to simulate the growth of such stage I-cracks is presented. The crack is discretised by dislocation discontinuity boundary elements and the direct boundary element method is used to mesh the grain boundaries. A superposition procedure couples these different boundary element methods to employ them in one model. Varying elastic properties of the grains are considered and their influence on short crack propagation is studied. A change in crack tip slide displacement determining short crack propagation is observed. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

压电材料中两平行对称可导通裂纹断裂性能分析

采用Schmidt研究了压电材料中对称平行的双可导通裂纹的断裂性能,利用富里叶变换使问题的求解转换为求解两对以裂纹面位移之差为未知变量的对偶积分方程,并采用Schmidt方法来对这两对对偶积分程进行数值求解。结果表明应力强度因子和电位移强度因子与裂纹的几何尺寸有关。与不可导通裂纹有关结果相比,可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子远小于相应问题不可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子。     

Superconvergence of immersed finite element methods for interface problems

In this article, we study superconvergence properties of immersed finite element methods for the one dimensional elliptic interface problem. Due to low global regularity of the solution, classical superconvergence phenomenon for finite element methods disappears unless the discontinuity of the coefficient is resolved by partition. We show that immersed finite element solutions inherit all desired superconvergence properties from standard finite element methods without requiring the mesh to be aligned with the interface. In particular, on interface elements, superconvergence occurs at roots of generalized orthogonal polynomials that satisfy both orthogonality and interface jump conditions.     

A crack model with delayed embedded discontinuities

In this contribution the combination of a smeared rotating crack model with a crack model based on the strong discontinuity approach and formulated within the framework of elements with embedded discontinuities is presented. This so–called crack model with delayed embedded discontinuities allows considering crack opening in the direction normal to the crack and relative tangential displacements of the crack faces with transfer of shear forces across the crack faces. The advantages of this approach are shown by the numerical simulation of an anchor pull out test. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Multiple crack fatigue growth modeling by displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements

This paper presents a numerical approach for modeling multiple crack fatigue growth in a plane elastic infinite plate. It involves a generation of Bueckner’s principle, a displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements (a boundary element method) proposed recently by the author and an extension of Paris’ law to a multiple crack problem under mixed-mode loading. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general multiple crack growth problem can be solved in a single-region formulation. In the numerical simulation, for each increment of crack extension, remeshing of existing boundaries is not necessary. Crack extension is conveniently modeled by adding new boundary elements on the incremental crack extension to the previous crack boundaries. Fatigue growth modeling of an inclined crack in an infinite plate under biaxial cyclic loads is taken into account to illustrate the effectiveness of the present numerical approach. As an example, the present numerical approach is used to study the fatigue growth of three parallel cracks with same length under uniaxial cyclic load. Many numerical results are given.