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The optimal XFEM approximation for fracture analysis

This article has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text article. 2010 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 10 012067 (http://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/10/1/012067) View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more

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WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

The optimal XFEM approximation for fracture analysis

Shouyan JIANG1, Zongquan YING2, Chengbin DU1
1 2

Department of Engineering Mechanics, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Institute Co.,Ltd., Guangzhou 510230, China

Email: syjiang@hhu.edu.cn
Abstract The extended finite element method (XFEM) provides an effective tool for analyzing fracture mechanics problems. A XFEM approximation consists of standard finite elements which are used in the major part of the domain and enriched elements in the enriched sub-domain for capturing special solution properties such as discontinuities and singularities. However, two issues in the standard XFEM should specially be concerned: efficient numerical integration methods and an appropriate construction of the blending elements. In the paper, an optimal XFEM approximation is proposed to overcome the disadvantage mentioned above in the standard XFEM. The modified enrichment functions are presented that can reproduced exactly everywhere in the domain. The corresponding FORTRAN program is developed for fracture analysis. A classic problem of fracture mechanics is used to benchmark the program. The results indicate that the optimal XFEM can alleviate the errors and improve numerical precision.

1. Introduction The standard finite element method (FEM) provides substantial advantages in dealing with continuous problems. However, for discontinues problems, it is computationally expensive to obtain accurate solutions in the FEM approximations: the mesh has to align with a discontinuity and a considerable mesh refinement is required around a discontinuous feature. The extended finite element method (XFEM) was first introduced by Belytschko and Black [1], based on the idea of the partition of unity approach [2]. The XFEM ameliorate the drawbacks of the FEM mentioned above in solving discontinues problems. Therefore, the XFEM widely used in many fields as soon as the method is introduced, such as fracture mechanics [3-8], solidification[9-11], two-phase flow[12], contact[13], electromagnetism, composites, etc. The XFEM approximation consists of standard finite elements which are used in the major part of the domain and enriched elements in the enriched sub-domain for capturing special solution properties such as discontinuities and singularities. The goal of using enriched elements in standard XFEM is to expand the approximation function space of standard FEM such that the enriched approximation can cover or closer to the exact solution. The solution accuracy and convergence can be improved by enriched approximation. However, two issues in the standard XFEM should specially be concerned [14-15]: efficient numerical integration methods and an appropriate construction of the blending element. In the paper, an optimal XFEM approximation is proposed to overcome the disadvantage mentioned above in the standard XFEM. The
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c 2010 Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

modified enrichment functions are presented that can reproduced exactly everywhere in the domain. The corresponding Fortran program is developed for fracture analysis. A classic problem of fracture mechanics is used to benchmark the program. The results show that the optimal XFEM can alleviate the errors and improve numerical precision. 2. The general formulation of the standard XFEM 2.1. The construction of the approximation In this section, the standard XFEM are described in detail. All applications of the XFEM are based on the general formulation of the standard XFEM. The approximation of the standard XFEM consists of a standard finite element part, i.e. the approximation of the FEM, and the enrichments based on the idea of the partition of unity approach. The approximation of the enriched term can capture the special discontinuous characteristics in the domain. The approximation of the standard XFEM can be expressed as

u (x) = N I (x)uI +
I K

I K *

N (x) (x)a
I

(1)

where, N I (x) is the FEM shape function of node I ; K is the set of the all nodes in the domain; K * is the set of the enriched nodes, and K * K ; u I is the unknown of the standard FEM at node I ; aI is the unknown of the enrichment at node I ; (x) is the enriched function. The finite element shape functions can form a partition of unity, so

N ( x) = 1
I I K

(2)

Based on the idea of the partition of unity, any enrichment function ( x) holds

[ N (x) (x)] = (x)

I I K

(3)

where, (x) is a discontinuous function for capturing special discontinuous characteristics in the domain. From Eq.(3), we can see any function (x) can be reproduced in the domain by local basis function N I ( x) ( x) . This is the key property of the standard XFEM for solving discontinuous problems. 2.2. Governing equations Similar to the standard FEM, the governing equation of the standard XFEM can be obtained by the principle of virtual work. Assuming the trial function u h as well as the test function v h satisfy Eq.(1), the virtual work equation is

(u h ) : (v h )d = f : v h d + t : v h d

(4)

where, is a bounded domain; is the boundary of surface force; f is body force; t is surface force. From Eq.(1) and Eq.(4), the governing equation can be obtained in the following KU = R (5) where, the matrix K is the global stiffness matrix which is obtained by assembling the element stiffness matrix k e ; R is the global load vector, and

WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

k uu k e = ij au k ij

T k ua ij r s , k rs ij = ( B i ) DB j d aa k ij

( r , s = u, a )

(6)

N i x Bu i = 0 N i y

0 N i , y N i x

( Ni ) x Ba 0 i = ( Ni ) y

( N i ) y ( N i ) x 0

(7)

3. The disadvantage of the standard XFEM This section indicates one of the disadvantages of the standard XFEM. Three different types of elements in descretized domains are shown in Figure 1. The nodes identified by solid dot are enrichment nodes, and others are the standard FE nodes. Based on the nodal type in each element, the elements in the domains can be categorized as three types: the first type called enriched elements is those where all the nodes in the element are enriched, the dark region shown in Figure 1; the second type called standard elements is those where none of the nodes in the element are enriched, the white region shown in Figure 1; the third type called blending elements is those where only some of the nodes in the element are enriched, the gray region shown in Figure 1. In enriched elements, the enrichment function (x) can be reproduced exactly. An enriched element in local coordinate is shown in Figure 2. The element approximation can be expressed as

Figure 1. Three different types of elements in discretized domains

4 4

u (x) = N I (x)uI + N I (x) (x)aI

I =1 I =1 4

(8)

and

N (x) =1 build a partition of unity. However, in blending element shown in Figure 3, the
I =1 I

element approximation is
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WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067
4

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

u (x) = N I (x)uI + {N1 (x) (x)a1 + N 2 (x) (x)a2 + N 4 (x) (x)a4 }

I =1

(9)

and the enrichment function can not form a partition of unity, i.e. N1 (x) + N 2 ( x) + N 4 ( x) 1 , that is in contradiction to Eq.(3).

Figure 2. An enriched element

Figure 3. An blending element

As a consequence, the approximation can not reproduce the enrichment function (x) exactly in the blending elements. Moreover, the unwanted term will be introduced in the blending elements approximation that can not be compensated by the standard FE part. The unwanted term can impair the accuracy of the approximation in the blending elements that must be concerned specially for ensuring the solution precision of the XFEM. In the following, take one dimensional bimaterial bar problem for example (Figure 4), the blending elements problem is illustrated in detail. The left edge of the bar is fastened, and a concentrated load F = 1 is applied at the right end. Youngs moduli is E1 = 2 for x < L / 2 , and E2 = 1 for x > L / 2 . The total length of the bar is L = 1 .

Figure 4. The sketch map of one dimensional bimaterial bar

(a) Displacement (b) Strain (c) Stress Figure 5. The analytical solution of the bar problem The displacement, strain and stress analytical solution of the bar problem are shown in Figure 5. From Figure 5, we can see that the displacement solution is a piecewise linear function and has a weak
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WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

discontinuity, at x = L / 2 . Next, we will discuss the XFEM solution of the problem. The enriched function for the description of the discontinuity of the problem is defined as

( x) = abs( x L / 2)

(10)

The discretized domains of XFEM are shown in Figure 6. Element 10-11 and 12-13 follow as blending elements, where the approximation of the problem can be expressed as

u (x) = N I (x)uI + N J (x) (x)aJ

I J

(11)

In Eq.(11), I is the set of all nodes of elements, i.e. I = {10,11} in element 10-11 and I = {12,13} in element 12-13, and J is the set of enriched nodes of elements, i.e. J = {11} in element 10-11 and J = {12} in element 12-13. We know N J ( x) is the FEM shape function and is a linear function. Additionally, (x) in Eq.(10) also is a linear function. Therefore, N J ( x) ( x) produces a quadratic function that can not be compensated by the standard FE part of the approximation. However, the displacement analytical solution of the problem is a piecewise linear function shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the appearance of the quadratic term, which is also called as unwanted term, in the blending element, leads to a reduction of the convergence rate of the standard XFEM. To improve the convergence rate of the standard XFEM, a special treatment must be done in the blending element.

Figure 6. Discretized domains of XFEM

4. The optimal XFEM approximation 4.1. XFEM approximation In fracture analysis, there are two types of enriched function: Heaviside enrichment and crack tip enrichment. It is important to notice that Heaviside enrichment is a special case, in which the standard XFEM approximation does not produce quadratic term in blending elements, because Heaviside function is a constant function. However, for crack tip enrichment, the problem of blending element still exists and a special treatment for blending element must be done. The XFEM approximation for fracture analysis can be expressed as

u = N I uI +
I K

I K

N I H ( x ) aI +

I K

N I J (x)bIJ
J =1

(12)

where, H (x) is Heaviside function; J ( x) represents the two-dimensional asymptotic displacement field around the crack tip and

J = r sin , r cos , r sin sin , r sin cos

(13)

Local coordinate system at the crack tip is shown in Figure 7, from which the significance of r and can be revealed. Additionally, K is the nodal set of those elements which are cut by crack; K is

WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

the nodal set of the element in which contains the crack tip; aI is the unknown corresponding to Heaviside enrichment; bIJ is the unknown corresponding to crack tip enrichment.

Figure 7. Local coordinate system at the crack tip In this section, we only need to consider the construction of the blending element in crack tip enrichment. To overcome the disadvantage of the standard XFEM mentioned above, the approximation in Eq.(12) can be improved [14-15] as

u = N I uI +
I K

I K

N I [ H ( x) H ( xI )]aI +

I K

N I [J (x) J (x I )] N I bI
J =1 I K

(14)

4.2. Integration Apart from the problem of blending element, efficient numerical integration methods also are very important for the improvement of the XFEM precision. In elements cut by a discontinuity, the local enrichment functions are discontinuous functions or singular functions. Therefore, standard Gauss integration methods perform poorly and can not obtain accurate calculation. Special integration rules must be concerned. In the paper, we develop the method decomposing quadrilateral reference element into several quadrilaterals but triangles. For those elements cut fully by crack, four different decomposing styles are shown in Figure 8(a). If the crack intersects the element through two opposite edges, the quadrilateral reference element can be decomposed into two quadrilaterals. However, if the crack intersects the element through two adjacent edges, the quadrilateral reference element will be decomposed into five quadrilaterals or six quadrilaterals. For those elements cut partially by crack, the quadrilateral reference element is necessarily decomposed into eight quadrilaterals, shown in Figure 8(b).

(a) Elements cut fully by crack (b) Elements cut partially by crack Figure 8. Decomposing quadrilateral element into several quadrilaterals Because of highly nonlinear character and singularity in enrichment elements, higher order Guass integration rules by increasing the number of gauss integration points, should be applied to those elements, 66 points for each subdivided element shown in Figure 8(a), and 1515 points for each subdivided element shown in Figure 8(b).
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WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

4.3. XFEM program design for fracture analysis A 4-node isoparametric element XFEM program is developed. To judge crack propagation, the values of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the crack tip need to be calculated by interaction integrals [1617]. Additionally, to determine crack growth direction, the maximum circumferential stress criterion [18] is used. Figure 9 shows the flow chart of XFEM program for fracture analysis.

Figure 9. The flow chart of XFEM program for fracture analysis

5. Numerical example The numerical analysis takes rectangle plate represented in Figure 10, with edge crack length a varying from 0.1m to 0.6m, the width of plate b=1m and the length of plate l=2m. Considering a state of plane strain, an axial tension load = 1kPa has been imposed on plate. The properties of the material are Youngs modulus E =1MPa and Poissons ratio = 0.2 .

Figure 10. Plate with edge crack

Figure 11. Finite element mesh

WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

The plate is discretized into quadrilateral elements, shown in Figure 11, with 861 elements and 924 nodes. The problem is a classic problem for fracture mechanics. The SIFs for fracture modecan be obtained as [19]

a a a a K = [1.12 0.23 + 10.56 21.74 + 30.42 ] a b b b b

(15)

Table 1 compares the analytical solutions of SIFs with its numerical solutions obtained by Fortran program, with crack length 0.1m0.2m0.3m0.4m0.5m and 0.6m, respectively. From Table 1, we can see that the analytical solutions of SIFs are identical to its numerical solutions. Error of optimal XFEM is smaller than that of standard XFEM, and numerical precision can be improved by optimal XFEM. Table 1. Comparing the analytical solutions of SIFs with its numerical solutions Crack length 0.1m 0.2m 0.3m 0.4m 0.5m 0.6m Numerical solution with standard XFEM ( Pa/m1/2 ) 0.65362436 1.06438875 1.57944328 2.38987898 3.54627420 5.48686680 Numerical solution with optimal XFEM ( Pa/m1/2 ) 0.660156782 1.075234687 1.592345789 2.369874123 3.546178952 5.492031546 Analytical solution ( Pa/m1/2 ) 0.663576025 1.086864821 1.612347502 2.359692314 3.545312336 5.533199059 Error of standard XFEM (%) 1.500 2.068 2.041 1.279 0.027 0.837 Error of optimal XFEM (%) 0.515 1.070 1.241 0.431 0.024 0.744

6. Summary and conclusions The standard XFEM approximation can produce problems in the blending elements that can decrease numerical precision. To solve the problem mentioned above, an optimal XFEM approximation is proposed, as well as higher order Guass integration rules and decomposing style of those elements cut by a discontinuity. A 4-node isoparametric element XFEM Fortran program is developed for fracture analysis. Finally, a classic problem of fracture mechanics is used to benchmark the program. The results show the optimal XFEM can alleviate the errors and improve numerical precision. Acknowledges The authors gratefully acknowledge the support for this research from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2007CB714104) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.50779011). References [1] Belytschko T, Black T. Elastic crack growth in finite elements with minimal remeshing [J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 1999; 45(5):601620. [2] Melenk JM, Babuka I. The partition of unity finite element method: Basic theory and applications [J]. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 1996; 39:289 314. [3] Mos N, Dolbow J, Belytschko T. A finite element method for crack growth without remeshing [J]. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 1999; 46:131150.
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WCCM/APCOM 2010 IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 10 (2010) 012067

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1757-899X/10/1/012067

[4]

[5]

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[8]

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