Analysis of three‐dimensional fracture mechanics problems: A two‐scale approach using coarse‐generalized FEM meshes

This paper presents a generalized finite element method (GFEM) based on the solution of interdependent global (structural) and local (crack)‐scale problems. The local problems focus on the resolution of fine‐scale features of the solution in the vicinity of three‐dimensional cracks, while the global problem addresses the macro‐scale structural behavior. The local solutions are embedded into the solution space for the global problem using the partition of unity method. The local problems are accurately solved using an hp‐GFEM and thus the proposed method does not rely on analytical solutions. The proposed methodology enables accurate modeling of three‐dimensional cracks on meshes with elements that are orders of magnitude larger than the process zone along crack fronts. The boundary conditions for the local problems are provided by the coarse global mesh solution and can be of Dirichlet, Neumann or Cauchy type. The effect of the type of local boundary conditions on the performance of the proposed GFEM is analyzed. Several three‐dimensional fracture mechanics problems aimed at investigating the accuracy of the method and its computational performance, both in terms of problem size and CPU time, are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

hp‐Generalized FEM and crack surface representation for non‐planar 3‐D cracks

A high‐order generalized finite element method (GFEM) for non‐planar three‐dimensional crack surfaces is presented. Discontinuous p‐hierarchical enrichment functions are applied to strongly graded tetrahedral meshes automatically created around crack fronts. The GFEM is able to model a crack arbitrarily located within a finite element (FE) mesh and thus the proposed method allows fully automated fracture analysis using an existing FE discretization without cracks. We also propose a crack surface representation that is independent of the underlying GFEM discretization and controlled only by the physics of the problem. The representation preserves continuity of the crack surface while being able to represent non‐planar, non‐smooth, crack surfaces inside of elements of any size. The proposed representation also provides support for the implementation of accurate, robust, and computationally efficient numerical integration of the weak form over elements cut by the crack surface. Numerical simulations using the proposed GFEM show high convergence rates of extracted stress intensity factors along non‐planar curved crack fronts and the robustness of the method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stable generalized finite element methods for elasticity crack problems

Generalized or eXtended finite element methods (GFEM/XFEM) for crack problems have been studied extensively. The GFEM/XFEM are called extrinsic if additional functions are enriched at every node in certain domains, while they are called degree of freedom (DOF)-gathering if the singular enriched functions are gathered using cutoff functions. The DOF-gathering GFEM/XFEM save the additional DOFs compared with the extrinsic approach. Both extrinsic and DOF-gathering GFEM/XFEM suffer from difficulties of stabilities in a sense that their scaled condition numbers (SCN) of stiffness matrices could be much larger than those of the standard FEM. A GFEM/XFEM is referred to as stable GFEM (SGFEM) if it reaches optimal convergence orders, and its SCN is of same order as that of FEM. An extrinsic SGFEM was established in Zhang et al for the Poisson crack problems. Objective of this article is to propose the SGFEM for elasticity crack problems; both extrinsic and DOF-gathering schemes are addressed. The main idea is to modify the enriched functions by subtracting their FE interpolants, which was developed by Babuška and Banerjee. To remove local almost linear dependence introduced by multifold enrichments at one node, we propose a local principal component analysis technique to identify and analyze “contributions” of multifold enrichments at one node. Numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed SGFEM and DOF-gathering SGFEM are of optimal convergence and have the SCNs of same order as in the FEM.     

Numerical and experimental evaluation of SIF for threaded connectors

This paper presents a methodology for fatigue crack growth analysis in tubular threaded connectors. A solution for stress intensity factor for semi-elliptical surface cracks emanating from a thread root in a screw connector is also discussed in the paper. The solution is based on a mixed approach incorporating weight function and finite element methods. The weight functions used are the universal functions for cracks in mode I and these are linked with a thread through-thickness stress distribution obtained from finite element analysis to produce a stress intensity factor for a crack at the critical tooth of a thread. The resulting crack growth data are then validated experimentally.     

On error estimator and p‐adaptivity in the generalized finite element method

This paper addresses the issue of a p‐adaptive version of the generalized finite element method (GFEM). The technique adopted here is the equilibrated element residual method, but presented under the GFEM approach, i.e., by taking into account the typical nodal enrichment scheme of the method. Such scheme consists of multiplying the partition of unity functions by a set of enrichment functions. These functions, in the case of the element residual method are monomials, and can be used to build the polynomial space, one degree higher than the one of the solution, in which the error functions is approximated. Global and local measures are defined and used as error estimator and indicators, respectively. The error indicators, calculated on the element patches that surrounds each node, are used to control a refinement procedure. Numerical examples in plane elasticity are presented, outlining in particular the effectivity index of the error estimator proposed. Finally, the ‐adaptive procedure is described and its good performance is illustrated by the last numerical example. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Discontinuity‐Enriched Finite Element Method

We introduce a new methodology for modeling problems with both weak and strong discontinuities independently of the finite element discretization. At variance with the eXtended/Generalized Finite Element Method (X/GFEM), the new method, named the Discontinuity‐Enriched Finite Element Method (DE‐FEM), adds enriched degrees of freedom only to nodes created at the intersection between a discontinuity and edges of elements in the mesh. Although general, the method is demonstrated in the context of fracture mechanics, and its versatility is illustrated with a set of traction‐free and cohesive crack examples. We show that DE‐FEM recovers the same rate of convergence as the standard FEM with matching meshes, and we also compare the new approach to X/GFEM.     

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。      

Mesh‐independent p‐orthotropic enrichment using the generalized finite element method

This paper is aimed at presenting a simple yet effective procedure to implement a mesh‐independent p‐orthotropic enrichment in the generalized finite element method. The procedure is based on the observation that shape functions used in the GFEM can be constructed from polynomials defined in any co‐ordinate system regardless of the underlying mesh or type of element used. Numerical examples where the solution possesses boundary or internal layers are solved on coarse tetrahedral meshes with isotropic and the proposed p‐orthotropic enrichment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized finite element method using proper orthogonal decomposition

A methodology is presented for generating enrichment functions in generalized finite element methods (GFEM) using experimental and/or simulated data. The approach is based on the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) technique, which is used to generate low‐order representations of data that contain general information about the solution of partial differential equations. One of the main challenges in such enriched finite element methods is knowing how to choose, a priori, enrichment functions that capture the nature of the solution of the governing equations. POD produces low‐order subspaces, that are optimal in some norm, for approximating a given data set. For most problems, since the solution error in Galerkin methods is bounded by the error in the best approximation, it is expected that the optimal approximation properties of POD can be exploited to construct efficient enrichment functions. We demonstrate the potential of this approach through three numerical examples. Best‐approximation studies are conducted that reveal the advantages of using POD modes as enrichment functions in GFEM over a conventional POD basis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple holes,cracks, and inclusions in anisotropic viscoelastic solids

By using the elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle, the problems with multiple holes, cracks, and inclusions in two-dimensional anisotropic viscoelastic solids are solved for the cases with time-invariant boundaries. Based upon this principle and the existing methods for the problems with anisotropic elastic materials, two different approaches are proposed in this paper. One is concerned with an analytical solution for certain specific cases such as two collinear cracks, collinear periodic cracks, and interaction between inclusion and crack, and the other is a boundary-based finite element method for the general cases with multiple holes, cracks, and inclusions. The former considers only specific cases in infinite domain and can be used as a reference for any other numerical methods, and the latter is applicable to any combination of holes, cracks and inclusions in finite domain, whose number, size and orientation are not restricted. Unlike the conventional finite element method or boundary element method which usually needs very fine meshes to get convergence solutions, in the proposed boundary-based finite element method no meshes are needed along the boundaries of holes, cracks and inclusions. To show the accuracy and efficiency of these two proposed approaches, several representative examples are implemented analytically and numerically, and they are compared with each other or with the solutions obtained by the finite element method.     

A multiscale stabilized ALE formulation for incompressible flows with moving boundaries

This paper presents a variational multiscale stabilized finite element method for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The formulation is written in an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) frame to model problems with moving boundaries. The structure of the stabilization parameter is derived via the solution of the fine-scale problem that is furnished by the variational multiscale framework. The projection of the fine-scale solution onto the coarse-scale space leads to the new stabilized method. The formulation is integrated with a mesh moving scheme that adapts the computational grid to the evolving fluid boundaries and fluid-solid interfaces. Several test problems are presented to show the accuracy and stability of the new formulation.     

Enriched finite elements and level sets for damage tolerance assessment of complex structures

The extended finite element method (X-FEM) has recently emerged as an alternative to meshing/remeshing crack surfaces in computational fracture mechanics thanks to the concept of discontinuous and asymptotic partition of unity enrichment (PUM) of the standard finite element approximation spaces. Level set methods have been recently coupled with X-FEM to help track the crack geometry as it grows. However, little attention has been devoted to employing the X-FEM in real-world cases. This paper describes how X-FEM coupled with level set methods can be used to solve complex three-dimensional industrial fracture mechanics problems through combination of an object-oriented (C++) research code and a commercial solid modeling/finite element package (EDS-PLM/I-DEAS^®). The paper briefly describes how object-oriented programming shows its advantages to efficiently implement the proposed methodology. Due to enrichment, the latter method allows for multiple crack growth scenarios to be analyzed with a minimal amount of remeshing. Additionally, the whole component contributes to the stiffness during the whole crack growth simulation. The use of level set methods permits the seamless merging of cracks with boundaries. To show the flexibility of the method, the latter is applied to damage tolerance analysis of a complex aircraft component.     

AN IMPROVED NUMERICAL TECHNIQUE FOR SIMULATING THE GROWTH OF PLANAR FATIGUE CRACKS

Abstract— This paper describes a versatile technique for simulating the fatigue growth of a wide range of planar cracks of practical significance. Crack growth is predicted on a step-by-step basis from the Paris law using stress intensity factors calculated by the finite element method. The crack front is defined by a cubic spline curve from a set of nodes. Both the 1/4-node crack opening displacement and the three-dimensional J -integral (energy release rate) methods are used to calculate the stress intensity factors. Automatic remeshing of the finite element model to a new position which defines the new crack front enables the crack propagation to be followed. The accuracy and capability of this finite element simulation technique are demonstrated in this paper by the investigation of various problems of both theoretical and practical interest. These include the shape growth trend of an embedded initially penny-shaped defect and an embedded initially elliptical defect in an infinite body, the growth of a semi-elliptical surface crack in a finite thickness plate under tension and bending, the propagation of an internal crack in a round bar and the shape change of an external surface crack in a pressure vessel.     

An extended/generalized phase-field finite element method for crack growth with global-local enrichment

An extended/generalized finite element method (XFEM/GFEM) for simulating quasistatic crack growth based on a phase-field method is presented. The method relies on approximations to solutions associated with two different scales: a global scale, that is, structural and discretized with a coarse mesh, and a local scale encapsulating the fractured region, that is, discretized with a fine mesh. A stable XFEM/GFEM is employed to embed the displacement and damage fields at the global scale. The proposed method accommodates approximation spaces that evolve between load steps, while preserving a fixed background mesh for the structural problem. In addition, a prediction-correction algorithm is employed to facilitate the dynamic evolution of the confined crack regions within a load step. Several numerical examples of benchmark problems in two- and three-dimensional quasistatic fracture are provided to demonstrate the approach.     

Adaptive and hierarchical modelling of fatigue crack propagation

A methodology is developed to simulate adaptively and hierarchically fatigue crack growth in structural components. Cracks are modelled, by overlaying portions of the finite element mesh free of cracks with a discontinuous finite element field containing unconstrained double nodes along the discontinuity. Crack propagation is simulated by advancing the crack front in the superimposed mesh only keeping the underlying mesh fixed. Adaptivity in time and space domain together with the hierarchical nature of the method ensure both economical and reliable simulation of crack propagation. Numerical results of fatigue crack growth in the attachment lug were found to be, in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Clustered generalized finite element methods for mesh unrefinement,non‐matching and invalid meshes

In spite of significant advancements in automatic mesh generation during the past decade, the construction of quality finite element discretizations on complex three‐dimensional domains is still a difficult and time demanding task. In this paper, the partition of unity framework used in the generalized finite element method (GFEM) is exploited to create a very robust and flexible method capable of using meshes that are unacceptable for the finite element method, while retaining its accuracy and computational efficiency. This is accomplished not by changing the mesh but instead by clustering groups of nodes and elements. The clusters define a modified finite element partition of unity that is constant over part of the clusters. This so‐called clustered partition of unity is then enriched to the desired order using the framework of the GFEM. The proposed generalized finite element method can correctly and efficiently deal with: (i) elements with negative Jacobian; (ii) excessively fine meshes created by automatic mesh generators; (iii) meshes consisting of several sub‐domains with non‐matching interfaces. Under such relaxed requirements for an acceptable mesh, and for correctly defined geometries, today's automated tetrahedral mesh generators can practically guarantee successful volume meshing that can be entirely hidden from the user. A detailed technical discussion of the proposed generalized finite element method with clustering along with numerical experiments and some implementation details are presented. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of fatigue crack growth in components with random defects

The paper presents a probabilistic method for the simulation of fatigue crack growth from crack-like defects in the combined operating and residual stress fields of an arbitrary component. The component geometry and stress distribution are taken from a standard finite element stress analysis. Number, size and location of crack-like defects are ‘drawn’ from probability distributions. The presented fatigue assessment methodology has been implemented in a newly developed finite-element post-processor, P • FAT, and is useful for the reliability assessment of fatigue critical components. General features of the finite element post-processor have been presented. Important features, such as (i) the determination of the life-controlling defect, (ii) growth of short and long cracks, (iii) fatigue strength and fatigue life distribution and (iv) probability of component fatigue failure, have been treated and discussed. Short and long crack growth measurements have been presented and used for verification of the crack growth model presented.     

Crack growth simulation for arbitrarily shaped cracks based on the virtual crack closure technique

In this paper, crack growth simulation for arbitrarily shaped cracks was investigated based on the virtual crack closure technique. During simulations, the crack front was represented by an approximated zigzag line which had the same general shape as the given crack. For this approximated zigzag crack front, a modified approach was developed to determine the required nodal forces, virtually closed area and displacement opening. After the strain energy release rate G was calculated, crack growth was governed by the fracture criterion G/G _C = 1 at all the crack tip nodes. The important features of the proposed approach are that (i) a simple stationary finite element mesh can be used for arbitrarily shaped cracks and (ii) adaptive re-meshing technique is avoided in studying crack growth. Three cases having different initial crack shapes are presented to assess the validity of this approach and to evaluate the ease of use in tracking crack growth. Reasonable agreement between the present study and other approaches are obtained. The shape changes during crack propagation can also be tracked with ease.