Fracture-path Prediction Simulation for Dynamic Crack Branch Phenomenon Using a Moving Finite Element Method

Abstract

In actual fracture phenomena, branched cracks were often observed. The numerical simulation technique of dynamic crack bifurcation has not been established enough due to some numerical difficulties. The development of this simulation technique is very important to clarify the crack bifurcation mechanism. The authors have previously developed the moving finite element method with Delaunay triangulation for crack bifurcation analyses. In this study, the numerical path prediction is tried by using the moving FEM. For bifurcated cracks, crack propagation paths are predicted according to the maximum hoop stress. The results of numerical prediction agree with the experimental results and the results of generation phase simulation. In these simulations, the fracture mechanics parameters were accurately calculated by special form of the dynamic J integral.