Discontinuous analysis of softening solids under impact loading

Softening solids are analysed under impact loading using a new numerical me thod which allows displacement discontinuities to propagate arbitrarily thr ough a finite element mesh. The Dirac-delta distributions that arise in the strain held of classical continuum theory in the presence of strain soften ing are interpreted as discontinuities in the displacement held. A new fini te element procedure with Heaviside jumps added to the underlying displacem ent interpolation basis is able to capture displacement jumps independent o f the spatial discretisation. The amplitudes of displacement jumps are repr esented by extra degrees of freedom at existing nodes. Numerical results fo r mode-I and mode-II failure due to impact loading are presented. The numer ical results highlight the objectivity of the approach with respect to spat ial discretisation under dynamic loading conditions. Copyright (C) 2001 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Ltd.