Fracture propagation based on meshless method and energy release rate criterion extended to the Double Cantilever Beam adhesive joint test

Abstract

In this work, a numerical methodology based on a meshless technique is proposed to predict the fracture propagation in Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) adhesive joints. The Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM) is used to approximate the field variable at each crack increment step. The meshless method permits a flexible discretization of the problem domain in a set of unstructured field nodes and eases the implementation of the geometric crack propagation algorithm. Regarding the fracture propagation algorithm, a recent adaptative remeshing technique is used combined with the RPIM. The crack tip is explicitly propagated by locally remeshing the field nodes and triangular integration cells in the crack tip vicinity. To predict the crack initiation, a fracture mechanics criterion based on the energy release rate in DCB is implemented. The proposed numerical methodology is validated with experimental data.