A finite element code for fracture propagation analysis within elasto-plastic continuum

A new code for the simulation of mixed-mode fracture propagation within a body deforming elasto-plastically is presented in this paper. The analysis is fully automated in that it requires no user interaction. An automatic local remeshing technique is developed based on the window remeshing technique of Murti [Numerical fracture mechanics using finite element methods. Ph.D.Thesis, University of New South Wales (1986)]. This algorithm ensures that proper element geometries are maintained in the crack tip vicinity and that reasonable shaped elements are preserved further away from the crack tip. A new approach was developed to predict the fracture trajectory under load or displacement control. This new approach is particularly suited to applications where the applied loads or displacements are the controlling factors rather than the crack extension. The code incorporates recently developed profile reduction and mesh rezoning techniques for increased efficiency. The capability of this new code is demonstrated by application to a number of practical problems.

[1]  G. Sih.  Strain-energy-density factor applied to mixed mode crack problems , 1974 .

[2]  I. L. Lim,et al.  Assessment of mixed-mode fracture toughness testing methods for rock , 1994 .

[3]  H. G. Hopkins,et al.  Axially symmetric plastic deformations in soils , 1961, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[4]  Jung-Ho Cheng,et al.  Automatic adaptive remeshing for finite element simulation of forming processes , 1988 .

[5]  Anthony R. Ingraffea,et al.  Transition elements to be used with quarter-point crack-tip elements , 1978 .

[6]  I. L. Lim,et al.  On stress intensity factor computation from the quarter‐point element displacements , 1992 .

[7]  Hussain,et al.  Strain Energy Release Rate for a Crack Under Combined Mode I and Mode II , 1974 .

[8]  I. L. Lim,et al.  A comparison of algorithms for profile reduction of sparse matrices , 1995 .

[9]  Noboru Kikuchi,et al.  A mesh re-zoning technique for finite element simulations of metal forming processes , 1986 .

[10]  E. H. Davis,et al.  Theories of plasticity and the failure of soil masses , 1968 .

[11]  Paul A. Wawrzynek,et al.  Interactive finite element analysis of fracture processes: An integrated approach , 1987 .

[12]  A Further Examination on the Application of the Strain Energy Density Theory to the Angled Crack Problem , 1982 .

[13]  I. L. Lim,et al.  Comparison between various displacement-based stress intensity factor computation techniques , 1992 .

[14]  Yoichi Sumi,et al.  Computational crack path prediction , 1985 .

[15]  J. Rots.  Computational modeling of concrete fracture , 1988 .

[16]  Anthony R. Ingraffea,et al.  Numerical Modelling of Fracture Propagation , 1983 .

[17]  John Robinson.  CRE method of element testing and the Jacobian shape parameters , 1987 .

[18]  Henry T. Y. Yang,et al.  Adaptive 2D finite element simulation of metal forming processes , 1989 .

[19]  F. Erdogan,et al.  On the Crack Extension in Plates Under Plane Loading and Transverse Shear , 1963 .

[20]  Mark S. Shephard,et al.  Automatic crack propagation tracking , 1985 .

[21]  Mark S. Shephard,et al.  The NT-criterion for predicting crack growth increments , 1987 .

[22]  J. Robinson.  Some new distortion measures for quadrilaterals , 1987 .

[23]  Richard H. Crawford,et al.  Mesh rezoning of 2D isoparametric elements by inversion , 1989 .

[24]  T. Taniguchi.  CRACK PROPAGATION ANALYSIS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES , 1989 .

[25]  John S. Campbell,et al.  Local and global smoothing of discontinuous finite element functions using a least squares method , 1974 .

[26]  J. F. T. Pittman,et al.  Numerical methods in industrial forming processes , 1982 .

[27]  B. N. Whittaker,et al.  Rock fracture mechanics , 1992 .

[28]  Y. C. Wang,et al.  Numerical inverse isoparametric mapping in 3D FEM , 1988 .

[29]  Scott W. Sloan,et al.  A FORTRAN program for profile and wavefront reduction , 1989 .

[30]  I. L. Lim,et al.  Application of singular quadratic distorted isoparametric elements in linear fracture mechanics , 1993 .

[31]  R. Hill.  The mathematical theory of plasticity , 1950 .

[32]  Serge Cescotto,et al.  An automatic remeshing technique for finite element simulation of forming processes , 1990 .

[33]  R. Borst,et al.  Analysis of Mixed-Mode Fracture in Concrete , 1987 .

[34]  I. L. Lim,et al.  The use of transition elements , 1991 .

[35]  I. L. Lim,et al.  An improved numerical inverse isoparametric mapping technique for 2D mesh rezoning , 1992 .

[36]  I. L. Lim,et al.  Fracture testing of a soft rock with semi-circular specimens under three-point bending. Part 2—mixed-mode , 1994 .

[37]  H K Chiu,et al.  Theoretical analyses of rock socketed piles , 1980 .

[38]  O. C. Zienkiewicz,et al.  Elasto‐plastic stress analysis. A generalization for various contitutive relations including strain softening , 1972 .