Crack Growth Simulation Under Complicated Stress Field Using S-Version FEM

In the S-version finite element method (S-FEM), a local detailed finite element mesh (local mesh) is superimposed on a coarse finite element model (global mesh) representing the global structure. In the S-FEM developed by Tokyo University of Science, the virtual crack closure integral method is employed to evaluate the stress intensity factor, and a local mesh is re-meshed automatically, which enables easy simulations of crack growth by users. Using S-FEM, crack growth can be simulated in both two- and three-dimensional stress fields, under thermal stress field, under welding residual stress field, and in multiple materials. This paper reports the latest results of the simulations of crack growth in the presence of complicated stress fields.