3-DIMENSIONAL CRACK-GROWTH SIMULATION USING BEM

In this paper an application of dual boundary element method to the analysis of three-dimensional mixed-mode crack growth is presented. The crack growth processes are simulated numerically with an incremental crack-extension analysis based on the minimum strain energy density criterion and a fatigue crack growth law. For each crack extension, the size of the increment (crack growth) and direction of crack growth is evaluated along the crack front. The dual boundary element analysis is applied to perform a single-region analysis and the stress intensity factors are evaluated using a displacement-based method. The crack extension is modelled with the introduction of new boundary elements, removing the requirement of interior remeshing, an intrinsic feature of the dual boundary element method. Results of analysis are presented for several geometries, including planar and non-planar crack growth.