A MLS-based numerical manifold method for multiple cracks propagation
LIU Feng1，ZHENG Hong1，XIA Kaiwen2
(1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering，Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Wuhan，Hubei 430071，China；2. School of Civil Engineering，Tianjin University，Tianjin 300072，China)
Abstract：The full response of a brittle structure containing multiple cracks under the servo loading condition is of vital importance in the evaluation of properties of the structure. Due to the mathematical covers and physical covers，numerical manifold method is able to simulate the initiation and growth of multiple cracks in a natural way. In order to handle the junction of cracks more straightly，the MLS-based numerical manifold method was used，and the physical patches containing crack tips were enriched to describe the singularity. During the crack growth，crack tips can be located anywhere in the background meshes. Several numerical issues encountered in the simulation were discussed and solved. Besides，a simple algorithm for multiple crack propagation was presented to satisfy the fracture toughness closely. Several numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed method in the simulation of multiple crack propagation.
2016, Vol. 35 
