Three-dimensional quasi-static interfacial crack growth simulations in thermo-mechanical environment by coupled FE-EFG approach

This paper presents the three-dimensional interfacial crack growth simulations using coupled finite element and element free Galerkin (FE-EFG) approach under mechanical and thermo-elastic loading. Extrinsic partition of unity (PU) enrichment technique has been employed to model a crack in the domain. Crack face and crack front have been modelled by Heaviside and asymptotic branch enrichment functions respectively whereas a material interface has been modelled by a signed distance function. Modified domain based interaction integral approach has been employed to evaluate the individual stress intensity factors. Standard Paris law of fatigue crack growth has been employed for the life prediction of interfacial cracked geometries. Several interfacial fatigue crack growth problems have been solved by the coupled EF-EFG approach.