Simulation of Fracture in Fluid Structural Interaction

The proposed research effort will provide a new and improved numerical technique for predicting dynamic structural failure. The technique is based on the use of an innovative numerical technique referred to as Element Free Galerkin (EFG) or "gridless" technique developed by Professor Ted Belytschko at Northwestern University. The method will be introduced in, the general purpose codes for structural dynamics LS-DYNA3D and VEC/DYNA. The ability of the EFG technique to accurately calculate arbitrary fracture by the introduction of new free surfaces into a grid is demonstrated by a crack simulation in the Kalthof experiment. The extension of the EFG technique to the analysis of nonlinear large deformation transient problems, I.e., dynamic structural failure, is the objective of Phases II and III.. The proposed technique will exploit the EFG's capability for treating arbitrary crack formation.