Research
  /  
Micro/Nanomechanics
Computational Fracture Mechanics

The extended finite element method (XFEM) has been developed for modeling arbitrary discontinuities in finite elements. This method enables evolving discontinuites to be treated without remeshing. One of the major applications is the modeling of arbitrary crack paths: two such examples are shown below. It is also useful for the modeling of moving phase boundaries, dislocations, and fluid-structure interaction, among many other applications. The method is now being implemented in LS-DYNA and ABAQUS.

Crack branching and damage evolution of crack branching problem.

Final configuration of an explosively loaded pipe

Crack propagation in heterogeneous materials