Extended finite element method and fast marching method for three-dimensional fatigue crack propagation

A numerical technique for planar three-dimensional fatigue crack growth simulations is proposed. The new technique couples the extended finite element method (X-FEM) to the fast marching method (FMM). In the X-FEM, a discontinuous function and the two-dimensional asymptotic crack-tip displacement fields are added to the finite element approximation to account for the crack using the notion of partition of unity. This enables the domain to be modeled by finite elements with no explicit meshing of the crack surfaces. The initial crack geometry is represented by level set functions, and subsequently signed distance functions are used to compute the enrichment functions that appear in the displacement-based finite element approximation. The FMM in conjunction with the Paris crack growth law is used to advance the crack front. Stress intensity factors for planar three-dimensional cracks are computed, and fatigue crack growth simulations for planar cracks are presented. Good agreement between the numerical results and theory is realized.     

A combined finite element/strip element method for analyzing elastic wave scattering by cracks and inclusions in laminates

 A new numerical technique combining the finite element method and strip element method is presented to study the scattering of elastic waves by a crack and/or inclusion in an anisotropic laminate. Two-dimensional problems in the frequency domain are studied. The interior part of the plate containing cracks or inclusions is modeled by the conventional finite element method. The exterior parts of the plate are modeled by the strip element method that can deal problems of infinite domain in a rigorous and efficient manner. Numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed technique and demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. It is found that, by combining the finite element method and the strip element method, the shortcomings of both methods are avoided and their advantages are maintained. This technique is efficient for wave scattering in anisotropic laminates containing inclusions and/or cracks of arbitrary shape. Received 2 February 2001     

Delamination analysis of composites by new orthotropic bimaterial extended finite element method

The extended finite element method (XFEM) is further improved for fracture analysis of composite laminates containing interlaminar delaminations. New set of bimaterial orthotropic enrichment functions are developed and utilized in XFEM analysis of linear‐elastic fracture mechanics of layered composites. Interlaminar crack‐tip enrichment functions are derived from analytical asymptotic displacement fields around a traction‐free interfacial crack. Also, heaviside and weak discontinuity enrichment functions are utilized in modeling discontinuous fields across interface cracks and bimaterial weak discontinuities, respectively. In this procedure, elements containing a crack‐tip or strong/weak discontinuities are not required to conform to those geometries. In addition, the same mesh can be used to analyze different interlaminar cracks or delamination propagation. The domain interaction integral approach is also adopted in order to numerically evaluate the mixed‐mode stress intensity factors. A number of benchmark tests are simulated to assess the performance of the proposed approach and the results are compared with available reference results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic analysis of fixed cracks in composites by the extended finite element method

This paper is dedicated to simulation of dynamic analysis of fixed cracks in orthotropic media using an extended finite element method. This work is in fact an extension to dynamic problems of the recently developed orthotropic extended finite element method for fracture analysis of composites. In this method, the Heaviside and near-tip enrichment functions are used in the framework of the partition of unity for modeling crack discontinuity and crack-tip singularities within the classical finite element method. In this procedure, elements that include a crack are not required to conform to crack edges. Therefore, mesh generation can be performed without any need to comply to crack edges and the method is capable of modeling the crack propagation without any remeshing. To determine the fracture properties, mixed-mode dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) are evaluated by means of domain separation integral (J^′-integral) method. Results of the proposed method are compared with other available analytical and computational results.     

Extended finite element method for three‐dimensional crack modelling

An extended finite element method (X‐FEM) for three‐dimensional crack modelling is described. A discontinuous function and the two‐dimensional asymptotic crack‐tip displacement fields are added to the finite element approximation to account for the crack using the notion of partition of unity. This enables the domain to be modelled by finite elements with no explicit meshing of the crack surfaces. Computational geometry issues associated with the representation of the crack and the enrichment of the finite element approximation are discussed. Stress intensity factors (SIFs) for planar three‐dimensional cracks are presented, which are found to be in good agreement with benchmark solutions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatigue crack propagation of multiple coplanar cracks with the coupled extended finite element/fast marching method

A numerical technique for modeling fatigue crack propagation of multiple coplanar cracks is presented. The proposed method couples the extended finite element method (X-FEM) [Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng. 48 (11) (2000) 1549] to the fast marching method (FMM) [Level Set Methods & Fast Marching Methods: Evolving Interfaces in Computational Geometry, Fluid Mechanics, Computer Vision, and Materials Science, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1999]. The entire crack geometry, including one or more cracks, is represented by a single signed distance (level set) function. Merging of distinct cracks is handled naturally by the FMM with no collision detection or mesh reconstruction required. The FMM in conjunction with the Paris crack growth law is used to advance the crack front. In the X-FEM, a discontinuous function and the two-dimensional asymptotic crack-tip displacement fields are added to the finite element approximation to account for the crack using the notion of partition of unity [Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Engng. 139 (1996) 289]. This enables the domain to be modeled by a single fixed finite element mesh with no explicit meshing of the crack surfaces. In an earlier study [Engng. Fract. Mech. 70 (1) (2003) 29], the methodology, algorithm, and implementation for three-dimensional crack propagation of single cracks was introduced. In this paper, simulations for multiple planar cracks are presented, with crack merging and fatigue growth carried out without any user-intervention or remeshing.     

A robust preconditioning technique for the extended finite element method

The extended finite element method enhances the approximation properties of the finite element space by using additional enrichment functions. But the resulting stiffness matrices can become ill‐conditioned. In that case iterative solvers need a large number of iterations to obtain an acceptable solution. In this paper a procedure is described to obtain stiffness matrices whose condition number is close to the one of the finite element matrices without any enrichments. A domain decomposition is employed and the algorithm is very well suited for parallel computations. The method was tested in numerical experiments to show its effectiveness. The experiments have been conducted for structures containing cracks and material interfaces. We show that the corresponding enrichments can result in arbitrarily ill‐conditioned matrices. The method proposed here, however, provides well‐conditioned matrices and can be applied to any sort of enrichment. The complexity of this approach and its relation to the domain decomposition is discussed. Computation times have been measured for a structure containing multiple cracks. For this structure the computation times could be decreased by a factor of 2. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The extended finite element method for fracture in composite materials

Methods for treating fracture in composite material by the extended finite element method with meshes that are independent of matrix/fiber interfaces and crack morphology are described. All discontinuities and near‐tip enrichments are modeled using the framework of local partition of unity. Level sets are used to describe the geometry of the interfaces and cracks so that no explicit representation of either the cracks or the material interfaces are needed. Both full 12 function enrichments and approximate enrichments for bimaterial crack tips are employed. A technique to correct the approximation in blending elements is used to improve the accuracy. Several numerical results for both two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional examples illustrate the versatility of the technique. The results clearly demonstrate that interface enrichment is sufficient to model the correct mechanics of an interface crack. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developing new enrichment functions for crack simulation in orthotropic media by the extended finite element method

New enrichment functions are proposed for crack modelling in orthotropic media using the extended finite element method (XFEM). In this method, Heaviside and near‐tip functions are utilized in the framework of the partition of unity method for modelling discontinuities in the classical finite element method. In this procedure, by using meshless based ideas, elements containing a crack are not required to conform to crack edges. Therefore, mesh generation is directly performed ignoring the existence of any crack while the method remains capable of extending the crack without any remeshing requirement. Furthermore, the type of elements around the crack‐tip remains the same as other parts of the finite element model and the number of nodes and consequently degrees of freedom are reduced considerably in comparison to the classical finite element method. Mixed‐mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) are evaluated to determine the fracture properties of domain and to compare the proposed approach with other available methods. In this paper, the interaction integral (M‐integral) is adopted, which is considered as one of the most accurate numerical methods for calculating stress intensity factors. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The finite element discretized symplectic method for interface cracks

The method of symplectic series discretized by finite element is introduced for the stress analysis of structures having cracks at the interface of dissimilar materials. The crack is modeled by the conventional finite elements dividing into two regions: near and far fields. The unknowns in the far field are as usual. In the near field, a Hamiltonian system is established for applying the method of separable variables and the solutions are expanded in exact symplectic eigenfunctions. By performing a transformation from the large amount of finite element unknowns to a small set of coefficients of the symplectic expansion, the stress intensity factors, the displacements and stresses in the singular region are obtained simultaneously without any post-processing. The numerical results are obtained for various cracks lying at the bi-material interface, and are found to be in good agreement with the reference solutions for the interface crack problems. Some practical examples are also given.     

MLS‐based variable‐node elements compatible with quadratic interpolation. Part II: application for finite crack element

Two‐dimensional finite ‘crack’ elements for simulation of propagating cracks are developed using the moving least‐square (MLS) approximation. The mapping from the parental domain to the physical element domain is implicitly obtained from MLS approximation, with the shape functions and their derivatives calculated and saved only at the numerical integration points. The MLS‐based variable‐node elements are extended to construct the crack elements, which allow the discontinuity of crack faces and the crack‐tip singularity. The accuracy of the crack elements is checked by calculating the stress intensity factor under mode I loading. The crack elements turn out to be very efficient and accurate for simulating crack propagations, only with the minimal amount of element adjustment and node addition as the crack tip moves. Numerical results and comparison to the results from other works demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the present scheme for the crack elements. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

含裂纹压电材料的Cell-Based光滑扩展有限元法

为精确而有效地求解机电耦合作用下含裂纹压电材料的断裂参数,首先,通过将复势函数法、扩展有限元法和光滑梯度技术引入到含裂纹压电材料的断裂机理问题中,提出了含裂纹压电材料的Cell-Based光滑扩展有限元法;然后,对含中心裂纹的压电材料强度因子进行了模拟,并将模拟结果与扩展有限元法和有限元法的计算结果进行了对比。数值算例结果表明:Cell-Based光滑扩展有限元法兼具扩展有限元法和光滑有限元法的特点,不仅单元网格与裂纹面相互独立,且裂尖处单元不需精密划分,与此同时,Cell-Based光滑扩展有限元法还具有形函数简单且不需求导、对网格质量要求低且求解精度高等优点。所得结论表明Cell-Based光滑扩展有限元法是压电材料断裂分析的有效数值方法。      

Solution of plate bending problems in fracture mechanics using a specialized finite element technique

This paper deals with the development and application of a special crack-tip finite element to obtain the bending and shear intensity factors for thin elastic plates containing cracks. The bending and shear intensity factors are then used to compute the Strain Energy Density Factor and the direction of crack initiation. The solution procedure is illustrated through several numerical examples. The problem of an axial flow compressor blade containing a crack is solved using a combination of special crack tip plate bending and plane stress elements.     

XFEM‐based element subscale refinement for detailed representation of crack propagation in large‐scale analyses

In the present paper, we address the delicate balance between computational efficiency and level of detailing at the modelling of ductile fracture in thin‐walled structures. To represent the fine‐scale nature of the ductile process, we propose a new extended finite element method‐based enrichment of the displacement field to allow for crack tips that end or kink within an element. The idea is to refine the crack tip element locally in a way such that the macroscale node connectivity is unaltered. This allows for a better representation of the discontinuous kinematics without affecting the macroscale solution procedure, which would be a direct consequence of a regular mesh refinement. The method is first presented in a general 3D setting, and thereafter, it is specialised to shell theory for the modelling of crack propagation in thin‐walled structures. The paper is concluded by a number of representative examples showing the accuracy of the method. We conclude that the ideas proposed in the paper enhance the current methodology for the analysis of ductile fracture of thin‐walled large‐scale structures under high strain rates. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A finite element alternating approach for the bending analysis of thin cracked plates

Based on the classical plate theory, the analytical solution for an infinte thin plate containing a crack subjected to arbitrary symmetric bending moments on the crack surfaces is first derived. Using this solution, an efficient and accurate finite element alternating procedure is then devised to deal with symmetric plate bending problems with single or multiple cracks. The interaction effect among cracks and the influence of the geometric boundaries on the calculation of bending stress intensity factors are also presented in detail. Several numerical examples are solved to demonstrate the validity of the approach.     

Three-dimensional finite element for analysing thin plate/shell structures

A three-dimensional (3-D) hexahedron finite element is presented for the analysis of thin plate/shell structures. The element employs an explicit algebraic definition of six uniform (continuum) strains, six rigid body modes and classical Lagrange-Germain-Kirchhoff thin plate bending modes. Nine additional stiffness factors are used to control higher-order hourglass modes. The element may be used for plate/shell analyses where the flat plate assumptions are appropriate. Also it can easily be adapted to form transition elements to lower order 2-D elements, or to higher-order 3-D continuum elements. The stiffness matrix satisfies the geometric isotropy requirement, passes the patch test, and gives essentially identical response to either applied transverse corner forces or to twisting moments applied on the corner, a requirement of Kirchhoff's corner conditions for a classical thin plate. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of this finite element.     

Finite deformation formulation for embedded frictional crack with the extended finite element method

We reformulate an extended finite element (FE) framework for embedded frictional cracks in elastoplastic solids to accommodate finite deformation, including finite stretching and rotation. For the FE representation, we consider a Galerkin approximation in which both the trial and weighting functions adapt to the current contact configuration. Contact and frictional constraints employ two Kuhn–Tucker conditions, a contact/separation constraint nesting over a stick/slip constraint for the case when the crack faces are in frictional sliding mode. We integrate finite deformation bulk plasticity into the formulation using the multiplicative decomposition technique of nonlinear continuum mechanics. We then present plane strain simulations demonstrating various aspects of the extended FE solutions. The mechanisms considered include combined opening and frictional sliding in initially straight, curved, and S‐shaped cracks, with and without bulk plasticity. To gain further insight into the extended FE solutions, we perform mesh convergence studies focusing on both the global and the local responses of structures with cracks, including the distribution of the normal component of traction on the crack faces. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient prediction of deterministic size effects using the scaled boundary finite element method

This paper develops an efficient numerical approach to predict deterministic size effects in structures made of quasi-brittle materials using the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM). Depending on the structure’s size, two different SBFEM-based crack propagation modelling methodologies are used for fracture analyses. When the length of the fracture process zone (FPZ) in a structure is of the order of its characteristic dimension, nonlinear fracture analyses are carried out using the finite element-SBFEM coupled method. In large-sized structures, a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)-based SBFEM is used to reduce computing time due to small crack propagation length required to represent the FPZ in an equivalent nonlinear analysis. Remeshing is used in both methods to model crack propagation with crack paths unknown a priori. The resulting peak loads are used to establish the size effect laws. Three concrete structures were modelled to validate the approach. The predicted size effect is in good agreement with experimental data. The developed approach was found more efficient than the finite element method, at least in modelling LEFM problems and is thus an attractive tool for predicting size effect.     

Cracking node method for dynamic fracture with finite elements

A new method for modeling discrete cracks based on the extended finite element method is described. In the method, the growth of the actual crack is tracked and approximated with contiguous discrete crack segments that lie on finite element nodes and span only two adjacent elements. The method can deal with complicated fracture patterns because it needs no explicit representation of the topology of the actual crack path. A set of effective rules for injection of crack segments is presented so that fracture behavior beginning from arbitrary crack nucleations to macroscopic crack propagation is seamlessly modeled. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated with several dynamic fracture problems that involve complicated crack patterns such as fragmentation and crack branching. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Channel-cracking of thin films with the extended finite element method

The recently developed extended finite element method (XFEM) is applied to compute the steady-state energy release rate of channeling cracks in thin films. The method is demonstrated to be able to model arbitrary singularities by using appropriate enriching functions at selected nodes with a relatively coarse mesh. The dimensionless driving force for channeling cracks is obtained as a function of elastic mismatch, crack spacing, and the thickness ratio between the substrate and the film. The results are compared with those from several previous studies when available. Emphasis is placed on the cases with compliant substrates, for which much less information is available from previous studies. It is found that, while it is quite challenging to model the cases with very compliant substrates using regular finite element method because of the strong singularities, the present approach using XFEM is relatively simple and straightforward.