Enriched finite element method for three-dimensional viscoelastic interface crack problems

The enriched finite element method is developed for three-dimensional problems of an interface crack between elastic and viscoelastic (including dissimilar viscoelastic) materials. According to the displacement fields of elastic interface crack, the displacement fields of viscoelastic interface crack are derived through the correspondence principle. By incorporating the displacement expressions into the displacement model of regular element, the incremental formulations of enriched element are derived. The stress intensity factors and strain energy release rates can be solved based on the enriched degree of freedoms. A 3-D through interface crack at the center of jointed dissimilar viscoelastic plate subjected to remote tension and a quarter-circular viscoelastic interface corner crack subjected to uniform thermal loading was investigated using the enriched finite element method. It is shown that the present solutions are consistent with the analytical solutions, which indicates the present method is correct and efficient.