Three-dimensional embedded discontinuity model for brittle fracture

• Published in: International journal of solids and structures Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 897 - 913
• Main Authors: Wells, G.N., Sluys, L.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Computational techniques; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Embedded crack; Enhanced strain; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue, corrosion fatigue, embrittlement, cracking, fracture and failure; Fatigue, embrittlement, and fracture; Finite-element and galerkin methods; Fracture; Materials science; Mathematical methods in physics; Physics; Strong discontinuity; Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Fracture; Strong discontinuity; Embedded crack; Enhanced strain; Constitutive equation; Performance evaluation; Discontinuity; Objective analysis; Brittle fracture; Brittle material; Numerical method; Finite element method; Three dimensional model; Energy dissipation; Dimensional analysis; Variational calculus; Modelling; Energy absorption
• ISSN: 0020-7683; 1879-2146
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7683(00)00029-9

Three-dimensional elements with discontinuous shape functions have been developed to model brittle fracture in unstructured meshes. Through the incorporation of discontinuous shape functions, highly localised deformations can be captured in a coarse finite element mesh. By carefully examining the variational formulation, traction continuity is assured in a weak sense across discontinuities and a discrete constitutive (traction–separation) model is applied. Using discrete constitutive models avoids the need for numerical parameters to achieve mesh objective results with respect to energy dissipation. Further, kinematic enhancements allow objective analysis in unstructured meshes. Examples of three-dimensional analysis are shown to illustrate the performance of the model.