Determination of sharp V-notch stress intensity factors using the extended finite element method

Abstract

An extended finite element method scheme for sharp V-notches is developed. The method allows the representation of notch faces independent of the mesh. This is achieved by enriching the finite element approximation of the nodes surrounding the notch tip with the first term of the notch tip asymptotic field and the nodes that intersect the notch faces with a jump enrichment function using a partition of unity method. The least-squares method is used to evaluate the stress intensity factors of sharp V-notches. Numerical simulations demonstrate the accuracy and the robustness of the proposed technique.