A newly developed computational approach is proposed in the paper for the analysis of multiple crack problems based on the eigen crack opening displacement (COD) boundary integral equations. The eigen COD particularly refers to a crack in an infinite domain under fictitious traction acting on the crack surface. With the concept of eigen COD, the multiple cracks in great number can be solved by ...

Numerical simulation of cracked structures is an important aspect in structural safety assessment. In recent years, there has been an increasing rate of development of numerical codes for modeling fracture procedure. The subject of this investigation is implementing automated fracture models in the DYNA3D nonlinear explicit finite element code to simulate pseudo 3-D crack growth procedure. The ...

The well-known J integral of elastic fracture mechanics has been related to potential energy-release rate associated with crack extension and has proved to be of great value in fracture testing. In particular, the pathindependence of the J integral has been used to an advantage in performing acoustoelastic measurements along a closed contour surrounding a crack tip. In Mode I (opening mode) for...

A method of analysis for determining crack propagation loads on wood beams with end splits is presented. The method is based on (1) linear elastic orthotropic fracture mechanics concepts, (2) theory of complex variables, and (3) least squares boundary value collocation (BVC). Using this method, the critical stress intensity factor, Kllc of Douglas-fir beams with end splits is determined to be 2...

The time dependence of fracture has two sources: (1) the viscoelasticity of material behavior in the bulk of the structure, and (2) the rate process of the breakage of bonds in the fracture process zone which causes the softening law for the crack opening to be rate-dependent. The objective of this study is to clarify the differences between these two influences and their role in the size effec...

For a reliable operation of structures and their components during exploitation period, it is crucial to monitor continuously or periodically check the integrity of structure. In the production and during exploitation, a certain amount of flaws can be encountered in any structure. It is important to determine how such flaws can influence the safety and reliability of the operation. Since fractu...

    The combination of horizontal drilling along with hydraulic fracturing has significantly improved the production of hydrocarbon reservoirs and made it possible to extract the relatively impermeable and uneconomical reservoirs. The production rate of oil and gas wells increases proportional to hydraulic fracture aperture or crack opening displacement (COD). This is an important parameter i...