Modelling cohesive crack growth in concrete beams using scaled boundary finite element method based on super-element remeshing technique

• A super-element remeshing technique based on SBFEM is developed to model crack growth.
• The remeshing operation only occurs along the crack path.
• The cohesive tractions are solved using a linear asymptotic superposition assumption.
• The cohesive tractions in the FPZ are sought by a particular solution.
• The SIFs are solved analytically and accurately with appropriate density of nodes.

A super-element remeshing technique is developed to model cohesive crack growth based on the linear asymptotic superposition assumption. The remeshing operation only occurs along the crack path. Mesh size is refined merely at the crack-tip super-element. The stress intensity factors are solved semi-analytically by the scaled boundary finite element method, sufficient accuracy can be ensured. The cohesive tractions are treated as side-face forces, and the induced displacement field can be sought as a particular solution to the governing differential equations. Numerical examples validate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approach.