Journal
FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Volume 45, Issue 4, Pages 280-293Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.finel.2008.10.012
Keywords
Dynamic fracture; Crack branching; Finite elements; Strong discontinuities
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This paper is concerned with the numerical modeling of crack branching in brittle materials using finite elements with embedded strong discontinuities, that is, discontinuities in the displacement field defining the solution of the underlying boundary-value problem. In particular, new finite elements are developed in this framework accommodating the different branches of the bifurcating discontinuity in the element interior. The key aspect of these developments is the correct representation of the kinematics of these configurations. This is accomplished through the identification of the proper separation modes characterizing these solutions and their incorporation in the discrete strain field of the finite element. The resulting enhanced modes are activated based on a branching criterion depending on the velocity of the crack tip. The performance of the new elements is illustrated with several numerical simulations involving other approaches for the treatment of branching and comparisons with available experimental results. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.
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