Dynamic Fracture Analysis Using an Uncoupled Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian Finite Element Formulation

Abstract

This paper deals with the implementation of an efficient Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) formulation for the three dimensional finite element modeling of mode <em>I</em> self-similar dynamic fracture process. Contrary to the remeshing technique, the presented algorithm can continuously advance the crack with the one mesh topology. The uncoupled approach is employed to treat the equations. So, each time step is split into two phases: an updated Lagrangian phase followed by an Eulerian phase. The implicit time integration method is applied for solving the transient problem in Lagrangian phase with no convective effects. A mesh motion scheme, in which the related equations need not to be solved at every time step, is proposed in Eulerian phase. The critical dynamic stress intensity factor criterion is used to determine the crack velocity. The variation of dynamic stress intensity factor along the crack front is also studied based on the interaction integral method. The proposed algorithm is applied to investigate the dynamic crack propagation in the DCB specimen subjected to fixed displacement. The predicted results are compared with the experimental study cited in the literature and a good agreement is shown. The proposed algorithm leads to the accurate and efficient analysis of dynamic crack propagation process.