A crack growth strategy based on moving mesh method and fracture mechanics

TY - JOUR

T1 - A crack growth strategy based on moving mesh method and fracture mechanics

AU - Funari, Marco Francesco

AU - Lonetti, Paolo

AU - Spadea, Saverio

PY - 2019/8

Y1 - 2019/8

N2 - A numerical model based on moving mesh strategy is proposed to simulate the evolution of internal material discontinuities in a continuum medium. The approach combines concepts arising from structural mechanics and moving mesh methodology, which are implemented in a unified framework to predict crack growth on the basis of Fracture Mechanics variables. In particular, moving computational nodes are modified starting from a fixed referential coordinate system on the basis of a crack growth criterion to predict directionality and displacement of the tip front. The use of rezoning mesh methods coupled with a proper advancing crack growth scheme ensures the consistency of mesh motion with small distortions and an unaltered mesh typology. In addition, the moving grid is modified from the initial configuration in such a way that the recourse to re-meshing procedures is strongly reduced. The numerical formulation and its computational implementation show how the proposed approach can be easily embedded in classical finite element software. Finally, numerical examples in the presence of internal material discontinuities and comparisons with existing data obtained by advanced numerical approaches and experimental data are proposed to check the validity of the formulation.

AB - A numerical model based on moving mesh strategy is proposed to simulate the evolution of internal material discontinuities in a continuum medium. The approach combines concepts arising from structural mechanics and moving mesh methodology, which are implemented in a unified framework to predict crack growth on the basis of Fracture Mechanics variables. In particular, moving computational nodes are modified starting from a fixed referential coordinate system on the basis of a crack growth criterion to predict directionality and displacement of the tip front. The use of rezoning mesh methods coupled with a proper advancing crack growth scheme ensures the consistency of mesh motion with small distortions and an unaltered mesh typology. In addition, the moving grid is modified from the initial configuration in such a way that the recourse to re-meshing procedures is strongly reduced. The numerical formulation and its computational implementation show how the proposed approach can be easily embedded in classical finite element software. Finally, numerical examples in the presence of internal material discontinuities and comparisons with existing data obtained by advanced numerical approaches and experimental data are proposed to check the validity of the formulation.

KW - ALE

KW - Crack propagation

KW - Finite element

KW - Moving mesh method

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85064312530

U2 - 10.1016/j.tafmec.2019.03.007

DO - 10.1016/j.tafmec.2019.03.007

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85064312530

SN - 0167-8442

VL - 102

SP - 103

EP - 115

JO - Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics

JF - Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics

ER -