Floating node method with domain-based interaction integral for generic 2D crack growths

Abstract The Floating Node Method (FNM), first developed for modeling the fracture behavior of laminate composites, is here combined with a domain-based interaction integral approach for the generic fracture modeling of quasi-brittle materials from crack nucleation, propagation to final failure. In this framework, FNM is used to represent the kinematics of cracks, crack tips and material interfaces in the mesh. The values of stress intensity factor are obtained from the FNM solution using domain-based interaction integral approach. To demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method, four benchmark examples of fracture mechanics are considered. Predictions obtained with the current numerical framework compare well against literature/theoretical results.