SINGULAR ENRICHMENT FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR ELASTODYNAMIC CRACK PROPAGATION

Abstract

An enrichment technique for accurately modeling two dimensional crack propagation within the framework of the finite element method is presented. The technique uses an enriched basis that spans the asymptotic dynamic crack-tip solution. The enrichment functions and their spatial derivatives are able to exactly reproduce the asymptotic displacement field and strain field for a moving crack. The stress intensity factors for Mode I and Mode II are taken as additional degrees of freedom. An explicit time integration scheme is used to solve the resulting discrete equations. Numerical simulations of linear elastodynamic problems are reported to demonstrate the accuracy and potential of the technique.