Fatigue analysis using the singular ES-FEM

A novel procedure of singular edge-based smoothed finite element method (singular ES-FEM) has been customized for the fatigue crack growth analysis. For this method, a layer of crack-tip elements with special shape functions was adopted to capture the theoretical singularity of the stress field. In addition, a ‘strain smoothing technique’ on the smoothing domains associated with the elements’ edges was implemented that significantly improves the accuracy of results compared to the existing finite element method. A comparison of results with the experimental observations reported by others reveals an excellent agreement between them implying that singular ES-FEM accurately simulates the fatigue behavior.

► Fatigue analysis has been conducted based on a new method of singular ES-FEM.
► Strain smoothing has been implemented to resolve the overly-stiff behavior of FEM.
► Instead of quadratic elements, a base mesh of linear elements has been adopted.
► New 5-node crack tip elements have been employed to capture stress singularity.
► A simple interpolation has been used instead of isoparametric mapping procedure.