Finite elements with embedded strong discontinuities for the numerical simulation in failure mechanics: e-fem and x-fem

P. SÁNCHEZ, J. OLIVER, A.E HUESPE, V. SONZOGNI

UADE, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Congreso; VIII Congreso Argentino de Mecánica Computacional (MECOM 2005); 2005

Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Exactas, Centro de Estudios Avanzados de la Universidad Argentina de la Empresa y la Asociación Argentina de Mecánica Computacional (AMCA)

In recent years, and in the context of the so called discrete cohesive models, finite elements with embedded strong discontinuities have gained popularity for the numerical simulation in fracture mechanics. The adopted kinematical representation of the discontinuous displacement field makes possible to consider a general clasification of these models in two groups or finite element families, i.e: elements with discontinuous modes of elemental (statically condensable) suport (E-FEM) and elements with nodal (not condensable) enrichment (X-FEM). In this work, a rigurous and comparative study between both numerical approaches is presented. In order to obtain consistent results, a common numerical scenario was adopted. Particularly, we have chosen the same constitutive law (continuum damage) and element topology (triangles and tetrahedras). In addition, special attention has been paid to computational efficiency topics. Fundamental aspects in the context of failure mechanics analysis, such as robustness, convergence rate, presition and computational cost, are adderesses. For this goal, tipical examples in concrete fracture are showed, including in this modelling the resolution of single and multi cracking problems for 2D and 3D cases.