Application of a variable order singular element to dynamic fracture mechanics (Q1821618)

The dynamic response characteristics of a variable order singular element proposed by \textit{J. E. Akin} [Int. J. Numer. Meth. Eng. 10, 1249-1259 (1976; Zbl 0341.65078)] have been examined in application to several stationary crack/dynamic boundary condition problems in an earlier work by the authors [Dept. Strength Mat. Solid Mech., Roy. Inst. Techn., Stockholm, Sweden, Rpt. 65, TRITA-HFL-0065, ISSN 0281-1502]. Presented here are the numerical solutions for the benchmark problem of that study, an infinite strip/semi-infinite crack problem having a closed analytical solution form given by \textit{F. Nilsson} [Int. J. Solids Structures 9, 1107-1115 (1973; Zbl 0263.73060)]. Time integration of the problem was conducted explicitly using the central difference scheme. The dynamic stress intensity factor \(K_ I(t)\) was computed using two different approaches: a local approach using the crack opening displacement relation to \(K_ I\) and a global approach employing the dynamic J- integral. The effects of mesh refinement and time step duration were examined with a series of refined grids and proportionally decreasing time steps. Results are presented in the form of non-dimensional \(K_ I(t)\) histories and are compared to the existing analytical solution.