On the use of XFEM within the Arlequin framework for the simulation of crack propagation

The Arlequin method is a generic numerical method that allows, by local superposition and coupling of models, to address multimodel and multiscale mechanical problems. In particular, this method has already been used to super-impose cracked patches on sound structures, reducing this way the global simulation resources a classical finite element approach would have required.In this paper, one of the key features of the extended-finite element method, namely the heaviside enrichment function, is used within the Arlequin framework to further reduce the costs of crack propagation simulations. The main goal of the paper is to describe the proposed methodology and to assess its performance through numerical experiments.