A new Interface element method on Computation of the interface Crack Propagation Energy Release Rate

摘要

A new interface element method was proposed to calculate the strain energy release rates (SERR) based on the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). A Lagrange multiplier was introduced between the node pair at crack tip to obtain the internal forces. Then from the VCCT, the SERR was solved by using the forces and displacements near the crack tip. Examples for stationary cracks under the two typical cases are given. Meanwhile, the relationship curves between crack energy release rate and the length of crack, plate depths were plotted respectively. The example shows that the interface element used to calculate the SERR is simple, efficient, and highly accurate in analysis of 2D crack growth problems, and without requiring the special singularity element or collapsed element at crack tip.