A BE based finite element for crack propagation processes

A boundary element based finite macro element for the simulation of 3D crack propagation in the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics is presented. While the major part of the numerical model is discretized with finite elements, a small domain containing the crack is meshed with boundary elements. By means of the Symmetric Galerkin BEM a stiffness formulation for the cracked BE domain is obtained which enables a direct FEM/BEM coupling. All necessary operations for the crack propagation are carried out within this boundary element based finite macro element and exploit the potential of the boundary integral formulation. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)