Finite and boundary element modeling of crack propagation in two and three dimensions

The development of two interactive graphical fracture-propagation systems is described. The Finite Element Fracture Analysis Program - Graphical (FEFAP-G) is a two-dimensional fracture-propagation system. The BEM3D is a three-dimensional boundary-element fracture-propagation system. In addition, the implementation of BEM3D on an FPS-264 processor attached to a VAX-11/750 is described. The results show that a realistic analysis is not only feasible with the aid of attached processors, but it can have its total time reduced by factors of the order of hundreds when compared to VAX-alone statistics. In an example problem concerning fatigue-crack propagation in a stiffened wing skin, both FEFAP-G and the BEM3D are employed to illustrate the utility of the fracture propagation systems. (Author)