Independent cover meshless method for the simulation of multiple crack growth with arbitrary incremental steps and directions

Abstract

The independent cover meshless method (ICMM) defines mesh irrelevant and node-based polynomial meshless interpolation functions over independent covers of discrete nodes and thus possesses the distinguished features of a simple formulation, low computational cost, the accurate numerical integration, and the convenient numerical implementation. By utilizing the unified continuous and discontinuous deformation analysis based on the ICMM interpolation theory, this paper systematically studies the simulation of complex crack propagation, the accurate calculation of mixed-mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the influence of crack growth increment and mesh density on the computational accuracy and stability. In the present computing framework, cracks are allowed to grow in arbitrary directions with arbitrary assigned incremental lengths. This technique provides a simple, convenient and efficient numerical method for fracture and failure analyses of brittle structures. Numerical examples for the calculation of stress intensity factors and the simulation of crack propagation demonstrate the accuracy, effectiveness and robustness of the present method.