An element-free Galerkin method for three-dimensional fracture mechanics

N. Sukumar*, B. Moran, T. Black, T. Belytschko

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

124 Scopus citations

Abstract

The application of a coupled finite element-element-free Galerkin (EFG) method to problems in three-dimensional fracture is presented. The EFG method is based on moving least square (MLS) approximations and uses only a set of nodal points and a CAD-like description of the body to formulate the discrete model. The EFG method is coupled with the finite element method which allows for the use of the EFG method in the crack region and the finite element method to model the remainder of the problem. Domain integral methods are used to evaluate stress intensity factors along the 3D crack front. Both planar and volume representations of the domain integrals are considered. The former require derivatives of stress and strain which are readily obtainable in the EFG method due to the C1 continuity of the MLS approximations used here. Applications of the method to the determination of stress intensity factors along planar cracks in 3D are presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)170-175
Number of pages6
JournalComputational Mechanics
Volume20
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computational Theory and Mathematics
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics

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