Fracture analysis of wood structures using a multi-region anisotropic boundary element formulation

Sérgio Gustavo Ferreira Cordeiro¹; Edson Denner Leonel¹

¹ University of São Paulo

doi:10.20906/CPS/CILAMCE2015-0084

Resumo

The modelling of crack growth phenomenon in wood using nonlinear fracture approaches has received wide attention by the scientific community in recent years. Among the available techniques for this purpose, the cohesive model has demonstrated to be accurate enough for dealing with the softening behaviour observed during the wood fracture. In addition to that, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) is recognized as accurate and efficient numerical technique capable to address fracture mechanic analyses. Moreover, using the Cruse & Swedlow fundamental solutions, BEM integral equations account the wood anisotropic mechanical response accurately. In this regard, the present study aims at coupling the cohesive crack model with a multi-region anisotropic BEM formulation to simulate the mechanical behaviour of wood specimens subjected to fracture tests. The coupling procedure consists in modelling cohesive cracks along the interfaces of multi-region domains. The nonlinear problem is solved using classical Newton approach, in which try and correction steps are required. Two mode I fracture tests of wood specimens were proposed to validate the presented formulation. The numerical results achieved were compared with experimental and numerical responses available in literature in order to prove the approach accuracy.

Palavras-chave: Anisotropic Boundary Element Method; Multi-region technique; Nonlinear fracture mechanics; Cohesive model; Wood structures