A novel numerical approach for fracture analysis in orthotropic media

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach for fracture analysis in two-dimensional orthotropic domain. The proposed method is based on consecutive-interpolation procedure (CIP) and enrichment functions. The CIP were recently introduced as an improvement for standard Finite Element method, such that higher-accurate and higher-continuous solution can be obtained without smoothing operation and without increasing the number of degrees of freedom.  To avoid re-meshing, the enrichment functions are employed to mathematically describe the jump in displacement fields and the singularity of stress near crack tip.

The accuracy of the method for analysis of cracked body made of orthotropic materials is studied. For that purpose, various examples with different geometries and boundary conditions are considered. The results of stress intensity factors, a key quantity in fracture analysis, are validated by comparing with analytical solutions and numerical solutions available in literatures.