Publication

Abstract : This work examines approaches for evaluating stress intensity factors (SIF), with a specific focus on the finite element method (FEM) and extended finite element method (XFEM) in the field of fracture mechanics. The study compares finite element method (FEM) results obtained using compact tension specimens that adhere to ASTM E399 requirements. The FEM findings are based on quadratic elements with a mesh convergence error of less than 5%. Additionally, the study compares the FEM results with the outcomes obtained using singular elements in the context of extended finite element method (XFEM). The precision, dependability, and computational efficiency of ANSYS and ABAQUS were demonstrated by numerical simulations. These simulations accurately determined the stress intensity factor (SIF) values, with an average variation from analytical solutions of less than 3% for the extended finite element method (XFEM). The analysis demonstrates XFEM’s exceptional accuracy by comparing it to analytical benchmarks. It achieves SIF estimations with a really impressive correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.99. The mesh-independent method of XFEM effectively reduces computational intensity, resulting in simulation times that are up to 40% shorter compared to conventional FEM with a refined mesh near fracture tips.