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A consistent characteristic length for smeared cracking models
Author(s) -
Oliver J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.1620280214
Subject(s) - finite element method , discretization , mathematics , displacement (psychology) , dissipation , mathematical analysis , geometry , fracture mechanics , mechanics , finite volume method , expression (computer science) , structural engineering , physics , computer science , engineering , psychology , psychotherapist , thermodynamics , programming language
A numerical scheme for crack modelling by means of continuous displacement fields is presented. In two‐dimensional problems a crack is modelled as a limiting case of two singular lines (with continuous displacements, but discontinuous displacement gradients across them) which tend to coincide with each other. An analysis of the energy dissipated inside the band bounded by both lines allows one to obtain an expression for the characteristic length as the ratio between the energy dissipated per unit surface area (fracture energy) and the energy dissipated per unit volume (specific energy) at a point. The application of these mathematical expressions to the finite element discretized medium allow one to obtain a general spatial and directional expression for the characteristic length which guarantees the objectivity of the results with respect to the size of the finite element mesh. The numerical results presented show the reliability of the proposed expressions.