A Bezier extraction based XIGA approach for three-dimensional crack simulations

In this work, Bezier extraction based extended isogeometric analysis (XIGA) has been performed for three-dimensional (3-D) crack simulations in linear elastic materials. The Bezier extraction represent the original NURBS basis functions in terms of Bernstein shape functions defined over C-0 continuous isogeometric Bezier elements, and provides an element wise data structure of NURBS which makes the implementation similar to extended finite element method (XFEM). A crack in the domain is modeled by Heaviside and crack tip enrichment functions. The values of mixed-mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) are obtained by interaction integral approach using virtual cuboidal domain. Various 3-D crack problems are solved by Bezier extraction based XIGA, and the results are compared with XFEM and analytical solutions.