Interaction effect analysis of two surface cracks using S-version FEM

Fatigue crack growth under mixed mode loading conditions is simulated using S-version FEM. By using S-FEM technique, only local mesh should be re-meshed for new crack configuration, and it becomes easy to simulate crack growth. By combining with auto-meshing technique, local mesh easily re-meshed and curved crack path is modeled easily. Fully automatic crack growth simulation system in 3-dimensional problem is developed. Using this system, a basic slant surface crack problem is solved, and it is shown that surface crack grows under pure mode I condition, which is similar to 2-dimensional problem. It is also shown that this system is available for complicated structures, for example, surface crack at inner surface of pipe. Finally, interaction effect of two surface cracks is evaluated.