A singular edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM) for bimaterial interface cracks

The recently developed edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM) is extended to the mix-mode interface cracks between two dissimilar isotropic materials. The present ES-FEM method uses triangular elements that can be generated automatically for problems even with complicated geometry, and strains are smoothed over the smoothing domains associated with the edges of elements. Considering the stress singularity in the vicinity of the bimaterial interface crack tip is of the inverse square root type together with oscillatory nature, a five-node singular crack tip element is devised within the framework of ES-FEM to construct singular shape functions. Such a singular element can be easily implemented since the derivatives of the singular shape term (1/root r) are not needed. The mix-mode stress intensity factors can also be easily evaluated by an appropriate treatment during the domain form of the interaction integral. The effectiveness of the present singular ES-FEM is demonstrated via benchmark examples for a wide range of material combinations and boundary conditions.