Singular patch method for linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis using isogeometric analysis

Abstract

The singular patch method for isogeometric analysis (IGA) to represent the singular stress behavior in the vicinity of a crack tip for two-dimensional linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis is presented. The singular stress behavior can be realized by appropriately placing the control points in the finite element method. This paper describes the general procedure to choose their positions when the quadratic B-spline functions are used for the IGA discretization. The accuracy of the proposed singular patch method is critically examined through evaluated stress intensity factors (SIFs) by the J-integral method and stress distributions in the vicinity of the crack tip. The results of the computations using the singular patch method are found to be very accurate.