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Adaptive and hierarchical modelling of fatigue crack propagation
Author(s) -
Fish Jacob,
Nath Aditya
Publication year - 1993
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.1620361610
Subject(s) - discontinuity (linguistics) , finite element method , overlay , fracture mechanics , structural engineering , paris' law , crack closure , extended finite element method , materials science , computer science , engineering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , programming language
A methodology is developed to simulate adaptively and hierarchically fatigue crack growth in structural components. Cracks are modelled, by overlaying portions of the finite element mesh free of cracks with a discontinuous finite element field containing unconstrained double nodes along the discontinuity. Crack propagation is simulated by advancing the crack front in the superimposed mesh only keeping the underlying mesh fixed. Adaptivity in time and space domain together with the hierarchical nature of the method ensure both economical and reliable simulation of crack propagation. Numerical results of fatigue crack growth in the attachment lug were found to be, in good agreement with the experimental data.