Arbitrary branched and intersecting cracks with the extended finite element method

Extensions of a new technique for the finite element modelling of cracks wi th multiple branches, multiple holes and cracks emanating from holes are pr esented. This extended finite element method (X-FEM) allows the representat ion of crack discontinuities and voids independently of the mesh. A standar d displacement-based approximation is enriched by incorporating discontinuo us fields through a partition of unity method. A methodology that construct s the enriched approximation based on the interaction of the discontinuous geometric features with the mesh is developed. Computation of the stress in tensity factors (SIF) in different examples involving branched and intersec ting cracks as well as cracks emanating from holes are presented to demonst rate the accuracy and the robustness of the proposed technique. Copyright ( C) 2000 John Wiley sr Sons, Ltd.