Finite volume analysis of dynamic fracture phenomena - I. A node release methodology

A novel node release numerical methodology based on the Finite Volume discretisation (Ivankovic et al., 1994) has been developed and applied for the simulation of (non-linear) elastic fractures where crack propagation velocities are not a priori known. The analysis is performed in two-dimensions by means of an unconditionally stable implicit time-marching scheme and a second order accurate conservative spatial differencing scheme. Application to single crack propagation problems has demonstrated the validity and accuracy of the proposed formulation for dynamic crack propagation. The results obtained by two examples of crack propagation in single edge notch tensile (SENT) and double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens show good agreement with selected numerical, experimental and analytical results. Based on these results, the formulation appears to be well suited to the study of rapid crack propagation (RCP) phenomena in brittle materials. This, combined with the simplicity and accuracy of the formulation, may provide a solid foundation for more physically realistic RCP computational methodologies other than that of the single linear elastic crack representation considered here.