• Auricchio, Ferdinando
• Ahmed, Awais

Abstract

This paper implements the extended finite element (XFEM) methodology to perform the failure analysis, which is essential to model and predict the post peak behavior of structures, especially as regard to seismic demands, where an efficient structural performance requires the structural components to behave in-elastically. XFEM is a local partition of unity (PoU) based method, where the key idea is to paste together special functions into the finite element approximation space to capture the desired features in the solution. Special functions may be discontinuous, their derivatives can be discontinuous or they can be chosen to incorporate a known characteristic of the solution. Accordingly, in the paper we first present some basics on the methodology, specifically focusing on crack propagation problems. The concept of enriching the field using PoU is then demonstrated using simple 1D numerical examples. The performance of the methodology is elaborated by means of characteristic bench mark problems in failure analysis followed by problems of interest to structural engineering such as evolving cracks in beams, crack emanating from voids etc. Finally, an analysis of beam with multiple interacting cracks is also presented.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• crack
• void