3D Boundary Element Analysis for Composite Joints with discrete Damage. Part 1.

Abstract : WL/MLBM solicited Phase I SBIR proposals to develop a capability for 3D boundary element analysis for composite joints with discrete damage. Fracture Analysis Consultants, Inc. with its extensive experience with boundary element technology and existing boundary element software, responded to the solicitation, and was granted a six month contract to demonstrate the feasibility of such a system. There were three tasks in the workstatement. All three have been completed successfully. These include: completion of a, 2D symmetric-Galerkin code, validation of the code on a test problem, and demonstration of capabilities for 3D contact problems. In addition considerable resources were spent on three additional tasks: addition of fracture mechanics capabilities to the 2D code, development of an efficient general routine for computing 3D orthotropic Green's functions, and implementation of a fully 3D symmetric-Galerkin code (currently in the testing and debugging phase).