Fatigue Crack Growth Simulation for Non-Homogenous Materials using Coupled (FE-EFG) Non-Linear Grided Technique

Abstract

In the present work, a coupled finite element (FE) non-linear grided and element free Galerkin (EFG) technique has been projected to evaluate the fatigue life of cracked heterogeneous plate. The discontinuities positioned away from the major crack have insignificant effect on the fatigue life. So, the small nearby region is modeled by EFGM as a non-homogenous medium, rest of domain using conventional FEM except interface elements applied in the transition zone. This will exploit the advantage of both the methods. In this method, domain is discretized by non consistence mesh, fine mesh used for multiple discontinuities and coarse mesh with equivalent properties distribution. Strain energy approach is used to calculate equivalent properties of the region of interest. Displacement compatibility of the intersection nodes between meshing difference is achieved by special transition elements. This non-linear grid approach is six times more efficient as compared to linear grid approach. The results obtained by proposed method are found in good agreement with those obtained by analytical/reference solutions.