Floating node method with domain-based interaction integral for generic 2D crack growths

The Floating Node Method (FNM), first developed for modeling the fracture behavior of laminate composites, is here combined with a domain-based interaction integral approach for the generic fracture modeling of quasi-brittle materials from crack nucleation, propagation to final failure. In this framework, FNM is used to represent the...

A separable cohesive element for modelling coupled failure in laminated composite materials

A three-dimensional separable cohesive element (SCE) is proposed to enable the modelling of interaction between matrix cracking and interfacial delamination in laminated fibre-reinforced composite materials. It is demonstrated that traditional cohesive elements are incapable of modelling the coupled failure mechanisms accurately if...