RECENT ADVANCEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS IN DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CRACK GROWTH SIMULATION

SMART (Separating, Morphing, Adaptive and Remeshing Technology) is a finite element based crack growth simulation framework[1] recently developed in the ANSYS Mechanical Solver. Crack representation is essential for FE based fracture and crack growth simulation. The ability to control the mesh and ensure mesh quality at remeshing are essential for robust and accurate crack growth prediction. In this paper several examples and benchmarks are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of the SMART framework for complex crack propagation simulation. We will then present the latest technological advancements in SMART development related to meshing control with special focus on meshing refinement and coarsening, and adaptive crack initiation.
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