A geometric nonlinear triangular finite element with an embedded discontinuity for the simulation of quasi-brittle fracture

This paper is aimed to model the appearance and evolution of discrete cracks in quasi-brittle materials using triangular finite elements with an embedded interface in a geometric nonlinear setting. The kinematics for the discontinuous displacement field is presented and the standard variational formulation with respect to the reference configuration is extended to a body with an internal discontinuity. Special attention is paid to the algorithmic treatment. The discontinuity is modeled by additional global degrees of freedom and the continuity of the displacements across the element boundaries is enforced. Finally, representative numerical examples for mode-I and mixed-mode fracture, namely a tension test, different three-point bending tests and a single edge notched beam with structured and unstructured finite element meshes are discussed to study the evolving crack pattern and to show the ability of the model.     

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.     

采用通用有限元程序的弥散裂缝模型和分层壳单元模拟钢筋混凝土构件裂缝宽度

该文基于弥散裂缝模型,采用通用有限元程序的分层壳单元计算钢筋混凝土构件裂缝宽度的方法。讨论了理论基础,Bazant和Oh提出的经典裂缝带理论主要针对素混凝土构件,严重的局部化效应导致显著的网格依赖性,而将裂缝带理论拓展到工程常用的配筋混凝土构件时,由于多裂缝分布发展的特点,裂缝带宽应修改为平均裂缝间距而使计算结果与网格无关。在理论基础讨论的基础上,给出了采用通用有限元程序的弥散裂缝模型和分层壳单元计算钢筋混凝土构件裂缝宽度的计算流程,其中,平均裂缝间距将有限元分析中的“应变”概念和工程设计中的“裂缝宽度”概念紧密联系起来,是计算流程中最关键的参数。以某承受负弯矩的简支组合梁混凝土板开裂分析为例,验证并讨论了网格相关性、大软化模量导致数值收敛困难的应对策略、平均裂缝间距的决定性作用等重要问题。     

基于XFEM的RC梁静态破碎研究

建筑基坑内支撑的拆除是影响施工进度的重要因素之一。为提高施工效率,提出一种在钢筋混凝土支撑梁内部沿着梁轴线预埋大直径孔道进行静态破碎的拆除方案。在此基础上,通过扩展有限元方法(Extended Finite Element Method,XFEM)建立含预埋静态破碎孔(孔径为90 mm)的钢筋混凝土梁(截面尺寸为500 mm×500 mm)模型,并对其在静态膨胀压力作用下的破碎及裂缝扩展过程进行了模拟分析。模拟结果表明:内支撑梁的静态破碎过程可分为弹性变形、裂缝稳定扩展和裂缝失稳扩展3个阶段;基于虚拟闭合技术,进一步计算得到了复合开裂模式下的应变能释放率,计算结果显示:裂缝扩展以Ⅰ型裂缝为主,当膨胀压力达到19.4 MPa时,可实现破碎钢筋混凝土内支撑梁的目的。     

Automated simulation of fatigue crack propagation for two-dimensional linear elastic fracture mechanics problems by boundary element method

In this paper, automated simulation of multiple crack fatigue propagation for two-dimensional (2D) linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) problems is developed by using boundary element method (BEM). The boundary element method is the displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements proposed by the author. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general growth problem of multiple cracks 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. Local discretization on the incremental crack extension is performed easily. Further the new adding elements and the existing elements on the existing boundaries are employed to construct easily the total structural mesh representation. Here, the mixed-mode stress intensity factors are calculated by using the formulas based on the displacement fields around crack tip. The maximum circumferential stress theory is used to predict crack stability and direction of propagation at each step. The well-known Paris’ equation is extended to multiple crack case under mixed-mode loadings. Also, the user does not need to provide a desired crack length increment at the beginning of each simulation. The numerical examples are included to illustrate the validation of the numerical approach for fatigue growth simulation of multiple cracks for 2D LEFM problems.     

基于XFEM的RC梁静态破碎研究

建筑基坑内支撑的拆除是影响施工进度的重要因素之一。为提高施工效率,提出一种在钢筋混凝土支撑梁内部沿着梁轴线预埋大直径孔道进行静态破碎的拆除方案。在此基础上,通过扩展有限元方法(ExtendedFiniteElementMethod,XFEM)建立含预埋静态破碎孔(孔径为90mm)的钢筋混凝土梁(截面尺寸为500mm ×500mm)模型,并对其在静态膨胀压力作用下的破碎及裂缝扩展过程进行了模拟分析。模拟结果表明:内支撑梁的静态破碎过程可分为弹性变形、裂缝稳定扩展和裂缝失稳扩展3个阶段;基于虚拟闭合技术,进一步计算得到了复合开裂模式下的应变能释放率,计算结果显示:裂缝扩展以Ⅰ型裂缝为主,当膨胀压力达到19.4MPa时,可实现破碎钢筋混凝土内支撑梁的目的。     

Modelling cohesive crack growth using a two-step finite element-scaled boundary finite element coupled method

A two-step method, coupling the finite element method (FEM) and the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), is developed in this paper for modelling cohesive crack growth in quasi-brittle normal-sized structures such as concrete beams. In the first step, the crack trajectory is fully automatically predicted by a recently-developed simple remeshing procedure using the SBFEM based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics theory. In the second step, interfacial finite elements with tension-softening constitutive laws are inserted into the crack path to model gradual energy dissipation in the fracture process zone, while the elastic bulk material is modelled by the SBFEM. The resultant nonlinear equation system is solved by a local arc-length controlled solver. Two concrete beams subjected to mode-I and mixed-mode fracture respectively are modelled to validate the proposed method. The numerical results demonstrate that this two-step SBFEM-FEM coupled method can predict both satisfactory crack trajectories and accurate load-displacement relations with a small number of degrees of freedom, even for crack growth problems with strong snap-back phenomenon. The effects of the tensile strength, the mode-I and mode-II fracture energies on the predicted load-displacement relations are also discussed.     

Extended finite element fracture analysis of a cracked isotropic shell repaired by composite patch

An extended finite element method (XFEM) is developed to study fracture parameters of cracked metal plates and tubes that are repaired on top of the crack with a composite patch. A MATLAB® stand‐alone code is prepared to model such structures with eight‐noded doubly curved shell elements in the XFEM framework. Crack trajectory studies are performed for a diagonally cracked panel under fatigue loading. Verification studies are investigated on different shell type structures such as a cracked spherical shell and cracked cylindrical pipe with different crack orientations. The effects of using patch repairs with different fibre orientations on the reduction of stress intensity factors (SIFs) is also studied which can be useful for design purposes. XFEM is selected as any crack geometry can be embedded in the finite element mesh configuration with no need to coincide the crack geometry with meshed elements and so re‐meshing with fine mesh generation is not needed in the current method.     

Parametric quadratic programming method for elastic contact fracture analysis

A solution procedure for elastic contact fracture mechanics has been proposed in this paper. The procedure is based on the quadratic programming and finite element method (FEM). In this paper, parametric quadratic programming method for two-dimensional contact mechanics analysis is applied to the crack problems involving the crack surfaces in frictional contact. Based on a linear complementary contact condition, the parametric variational principle and FEM, a linear complementary method is extended to analyze contact fracture mechanics. The near-tip fields are properly modeled in the analysis using special crack tip elements with quarter-point nodes. Stress intensity factor solutions are presented for some frictional contact fracture problems and are compared with known results where available.     

Stress intensity factors by enriched mixed finite elements

An enriched finite element model for linear elastic fracture mechanics is developed for a mixed variational statement. The independent approximations for the displacement and stress components are enriched by adding the near-field analytic expressions for a cracked body to the polynomial approximations of a conventional element. This allows for an accurate representation of the stress and displacement fields near the crack tip and also results in the direct calculation of the appropriate stress intensity factors. The accuracy of this formulation is demonstrated through several numerical examples.     

An embedded cohesive crack model for finite element analysis of mixed mode fracture of concrete*

An embedded cohesive crack model is proposed for the analysis of the mixed mode fracture of concrete in the framework of the Finite Element Method. Different models, based on the strong discontinuity approach, have been proposed in the last decade to simulate the fracture of concrete and other quasi‐brittle materials. This paper presents a simple embedded crack model based on the cohesive crack approach. The predominant local mode I crack growth of the cohesive materials is utilized and the cohesive softening curve (stress vs. crack opening) is implemented by means of a central force traction vector. The model only requires the elastic constants and the mode I softening curve. The need for a tracking algorithm is avoided using a consistent procedure for the selection of the separated nodes. Numerical simulations of well‐known experiments are presented to show the ability of the proposed model to simulate the mixed mode fracture of concrete.     

A Novel Hexahedral Interface Element for Nonlinear Crack Analysis

Existence of a crack in structures would lead to a sudden failure and damage. Establishing a precise analytical model for the cracked element would be a powerful tool to achieve the right answers in the analysis of the structure. The main aim of this article is to formulate a hexahedral interface element for use in nonlinear crack analysis. In this investigation, the kinematics of the discontinuous displacement field along with the virtual work principle, for a body with an internal discontinuity, is utilized. Based on the suggested interpolation functions for the discrete segments, and also the element displacement field, the element stiffness matrix is calculated. The proposed element can be used for modeling of the discrete cracks in three-dimensional problems, such as a concrete dam. Several numerical examples are analyzed for the accuracy test and a few of them are presented here. The results indicated that utilizing sufficient elements yields suitable answers.     

Fully-automatic modelling of cohesive crack growth using a finite element-scaled boundary finite element coupled method

This study develops a method coupling the finite element method (FEM) and the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) for fully-automatic modelling of cohesive crack growth in quasi-brittle materials. The simple linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)-based remeshing procedure developed previously is augmented by inserting nonlinear interface finite elements automatically. The constitutive law of these elements is modelled by the cohesive/fictitious crack model to simulate the fracture process zone, while the elastic bulk material is modelled by the SBFEM. The resultant nonlinear equation system is solved by a local arc-length controlled solver. The crack is assumed to grow when the mode-I stress intensity factor K_I vanishes in the direction determined by LEFM criteria. Other salient algorithms associated with the SBFEM, such as mapping state variables after remeshing and calculating K_I using a “shadow subdomain”, are also described. Two concrete beams subjected to mode-I and mixed-mode fracture respectively are modelled to validate the new method. The results show that this SBFEM-FEM coupled method is capable of fully-automatically predicting both satisfactory crack trajectories and accurate load-displacement relations with a small number of degrees of freedom, even for problems with strong snap-back. Parametric studies were carried out on the crack incremental length, the concrete tensile strength, and the mode-I and mode-II fracture energies. It is found that the K_I ? 0 criterion is objective with respect to the crack incremental length.     

Computational analysis of mixed-mode fatigue crack growth in quasi-brittle materials using extended finite element methods

In the present paper an extended finite element method (XFEM) containing strong discontinuity within elements is introduced and implemented in the commercial general purpose software ABAQUS. The algorithm allows introducing a new crack surface at arbitrary locations and directions in elements. To consider fatigue crack nucleation and propagation in quasi-brittle materials the XFEM is combined with a cyclic cohesive model. Accumulative material damage is described by separate evolution equations. The crack path is completely independent of the mesh structure but determined by the mixed-mode loading cases. Numerical simulations illustrate the ability of this method to simulate fracture with unstructured meshes. The computational results agree with known fracture experiment data. Known fatigue observations can be predicted using the present model.     

A FINITE ELEMENT TECHNIQUE TO SIMULATE THE STABLE SHAPE EVOLUTION OF PLANAR CRACKS WITH AN APPLICATION TO A SEMI-ELLIPTICAL SURFACE CRACK IN A BIMATERIAL FINITE SOLID

This paper describes a numerical procedure to model the crack front evolution of initially arbitrary shaped planar cracks in a three-dimensional solid. The influence of a bimaterial interface on the fracture path of a semi-elliptical surface crack in a three-dimensional structure is examined. The analysis is based on the assumption that fracture is controlled by small-scale yielding and linear elastic fracture mechanics. The finite element method and the crack-tip contour J-integral in a volume domain representation are utilized to calculate the crack front energy release rate. The computed values of the energy release rate are used with a crack-tip velocity growth law to model crack growth increment. The progress of the crack growth evolution is brought forward by successive iterations. Examples of computed crack evolution are given for an embedded circular crack, a semi-elliptical surface crack in a finite plate, and a configuration that defines an isotropic homogeneous material layer with a surface crack located between two material layers. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于扩展有限元法的钢筋混凝土梁复合断裂过程模拟研究

针对钢筋混凝土梁裂纹扩展问题,基于扩展有限元法,建立了预置裂纹的简支混凝土梁三维模型,用粘聚裂纹模型描述裂纹面间的力学行为,采用线性的软化曲线表示裂纹尖端断裂过程区的应变软化行为,分别对素混凝土梁和钢筋混凝土梁的复合断裂过程进行模拟,分析了纵向钢筋对裂纹扩展路径、荷载-挠度和荷载 -CMOD (裂缝开口处张开位移)曲线的影响,并与文献中的试验结果进行对比,计算结果与试验结果吻合良好,展示了扩展有限元法在结构断裂破坏分析方面的独特优势。     

Numerical simulation of crack problems using triangular finite elements with embedded interfaces

The aim of this paper is to propose numerical aspects for the modeling of discrete cracks in quasi-brittle materials using triangular finite elements with an embedded interface based on the formulation in [Computational Mechanics 27 (2001) 463]. The kinematics of the discontinuous displacement field and the variational formulation applied to a body with an internal discontinuity is given. The discontinuity is modeled by additional global degrees of freedom and the continuity of the displacement jumps across the element boundaries is enforced. To show the performance of the model, a single element test and two examples for mode-I dominated fracture, namely a tension test and a three-point bending beam, are discussed.     

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.     

Symmetric‐Galerkin BEM simulation of fracture with frictional contact

A symmetric‐Galerkin boundary element framework for fracture analysis with frictional contact (crack friction) on the crack surfaces is presented. The algorithm employs a continuous interpolation on the crack surface (utilizing quadratic boundary elements) and enables the determination of two important quantities for the problem, namely the local normal tractions and sliding displacements on the crack surfaces. An effective iterative scheme for solving this non‐linear boundary value problem is proposed. The results of test examples are compared with available analytical solutions or with those obtained from the displacement discontinuity method (DDM) using linear elements and internal collocation. The results demonstrate that the method works well for difficult kinked/junction crack problems. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.