Crack growth analysis using mesh superposition method and X-FEM

In this paper, a new approach to crack propagation analysis for large-scale or complicated geometry structures is presented. That is the connection of mesh superposition method and extended finite element method. In the former technique, two types of meshes are used and displacement is represented as the sum of them. And in the latter technique, discontinuity across the crack segment and singularity around the crack tips are represented in the approximation by enriching the nodal degrees. This technique does not require meshes to conform to the crack geometry. This enables crack propagation procedure with no re-meshing process. By using this approach, some numerical examples are presented.