Fracture analysis in plane structures with the two-scale G/XFEM method

Generalized or extended finite element method (G/XFEM) uses enrichment functions that holds a priori knowledge about the problem solution. These enrichment functions are mostly limited to two-dimensional problems. A well-established solution for problems without any specific types of analytically derived enrichment functions is to use numerically-build functions in which they are called global-local enrichment functions. These functions are extracted from the solution of boundary value problems defined around the region of interest discretized by a fine mesh. Such solution is used to enrich the global solution space through the partition of unity framework of the G/XFEM. Here it is presented a two-scale/global-local G/XFEM approach to model crack propagation in plane stress/strain and Reissner–Mindlin plate problems. Discontinuous functions along with the asymptotic crack-tip displacement fields are used to represent the crack without explicitly represent its geometries. Under the linear elastic fracture mechanics approach, the stress intensity factor (obtained from a domain-based interaction energy integral) can be used to either determine the crack propagation direction or propagation status, i.e., the crack can start to propagate or not. The proposed approach is presented in detail and validated by solving several linear elastic fracture mechanics problems for both plane stress/strain and Reissner–Mindlin plate cases to demonstrate its the robustness and accuracy.