The aim of this paper was to establish and demonstrate significant capacity and performances of extended finite element method (XFEM) to calculate stress intensity factors (SIFs) histories versus crack length for problems involving multiple, interacting cracks resulting from multiple site damage (MSD). A typical aero structural configuration was analysed: unstiffened flat panel made of aluminium Al 2024-T3, containing 11 holes, each of which is a site for crack growth. Analysed model makes a unique 3D configuration with 22 cracks, propagating at the same time. Short theoretical background information is provided on the XFEM, as well as representation of cracks and SIFs computation. The computations were carried out in Morfeo/Crack for Abaqus software which relies on the implementation of XFEM. The accuracy of these computations was verified through FRANC2D/L software and superposition based approximate method. The conducted analysis showed that XFEM is efficient tool for the simulation of crack propagation even in the case of 3D configurations with MSD, and that the obtained solutions can be used for the prediction of SIFs in analysed MSD configuration with acceptable accuracy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.