Numerical Simulation of Crack Propagation in Shells

Abstract

Numerical simulations of general crack propagation in arbitrary shells are accomplished by the use of automatic finite element remeshing and interactive computer graphics techniques. As part of each stage of this simulation, the curvature as well as the direction of crack propagation are calculated from the rate of energy release rate and the energy release rate, respectively. A fatigue model for mixed-mode fracture of arbitrary shell surface geometry is posed. For brittle fracture, a parameter which can be used to predict crack stability is also suggested.