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