ARBITRARY CRACK REPRESENTATION USING SOLID MODELING

This paper describes the fundamental modeling approaches adopted for crack nucleation and propagation in a software system that is specifically designed to simulate problems with evolutionary geometry. Only the topological and geometrical aspects of crack modeling, and how these aspects affect the database representation in the system, are addressed in the present discussion. The following are the innovative features of the present crack modeling approach: (a) crack simulation is done with a true geometric representation of the structure, via solid modeling; (b) crack modeling relies on the sophisticated, topology-based data structure of this system to support linkage to the solid model, fast interaction and accurate representation of evolving flaw shapes; (c) the system provides the ability to specify flaws of arbitrary shape (including non-planar flaws), size and orientation at arbitrary locations in the geometric model; (d) the flaw is specified at the desired location in the actual structure geometry, rather than at a location in the mesh; (e) the system uses all its automatic and local remeshing capabilities for the simulation of flaw initiation and growth.