• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.911-918
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• 2014

In this paper, a selective activation strategy of cohesive elements using user subroutine UMPC was studied as an efficient solution for the added compliance problem in cohesive zone model crack propagation analyses. The cohesive elements were inserted between every bulk elements in region where cracks were expected to initiate and propagate, but initially not activated by tying the cohesive nodes using multi-point constraints. During analyses, the cohesive elements for which specified criterion was met were selectively activated by releasing the constraints. The effect of initial cohesive stiffness and the release criterion on the crack propagation behavior was carefully investigated.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.401-407
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• 2014

In this paper, the effect of cohesive laws on the finite element analysis of crack propagation using cohesive elements is investigated through three-point bending and double cantilever beam problems. The cohesive elements are implemented into ABAQUS/Standard user subroutines(UEL), and the shape of cohesive law is varied by changing parameters in polynomial functions of cohesive traction-separation relations. In particular, crack propagation behaviors are studied by comparing load-displacement curves of the analysis models which have different shapes of cohesive laws with the same values of fracture energy and cohesive strength. Furthermore, the influence of the element size on crack propagation is discussed in this study.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.233-246
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• 2014

Estimation of fracture initiation pressure is one of the most difficult technical challenges in hydraulic fracturing treatment of vertical or horizontal oil wells. In this study, the influence of in-situ stresses and pore pressure values on fracture initiation pressure and its profile in vertical and horizontal oil wells in a normal stress regime have been investigated. Cohesive elements with traction-separation law (XFEM-based cohesive law) are used for simulating the fracturing process in a fluid-solid coupling finite element model. The maximum nominal stress criterion is selected for initiation of damage in the cohesive elements. The stress intensity factors are verified for both XFEM-based cohesive law and analytical solution to show the validation of the cohesive law in fracture modeling where the compared results are in a very good agreement with less than 1% error. The results showed that, generally by increasing the difference between the maximum and minimum horizontal stress, the fracture pressure and its profile has been strongly changed in the vertical wells. Also, it's been clearly observed that in a horizontal well drilled in the direction of minimum horizontal stress, the values of fracture pressure have been significantly affected by the difference between overburden pressure and maximum horizontal stress. Additionally, increasing pore pressure from under-pressure regime to over-pressure state has made a considerable fall on fracture pressure in both vertical and horizontal oil wells.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2017

In this paper, we propose a new method to debond between mixed finite elements for porous media in ABAQUS (2014). ABAQUS just provides debonding algorithm for the u-p model using cohesive elements in standard version. However, this approach has a drawback that it is hard to simulate complex debonding problems like element separation, rigid body motion, and contact between separated elements in standard version. ABAQUS-explicit can resolve these complex problems, but cohesive elements for the u-p model cannot be applied. We introduce a new algorithm for debonding for porous media instead of using cohesive elements. In this method, subroutines VUMAT to apply constitutive models and VDISP to separate elements in ABAQUS are used to simulate debonding problems. In addition, a simple 2-D example is demonstrated in the ABAQUS-explicit solver.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.385-390
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• 2005

A specimen with residual stress due to welding was analyzed by three-dimensional cohesive zone model. The residual stress distribution was calculated by simulating welding process, and cohesive elements were located along crack propagation planes. Crack growth is possible since two planes of the cohesive element are separated beyond a maximum load carrying capacity. Stress fields around a crack tip are compared for specimens with and without residual stresses. Load-displacement curves and crack growth behaviors are also examined.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.83-100
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• 2007

Applying a direct formulation for the enrichment of the displacement field an extended finite element (XFEM) scheme for modeling of cohesive crack growth is developed. Only elements cut by the crack is enriched and the scheme fits within the framework of standard FEM code. The scheme is implemented for the 3-node constant strain triangle (CST) and the 6-node linear strain triangle (LST). Modeling of standard concrete test cases such as fracture in the notched three point beam bending test (TPBT) and in the four point shear beam test (FPSB) illustrates the performance. The XFEM results show good agreement with results obtained by applying standard interface elements in FEM and with experimental results. In conjunction with criteria for crack growth local versus nonlocal computation of the crack growth direction is discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2019

The discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM) has become widely used as it possesses several qualities, such as a natural ability to dealing with discontinuities. DGM has its major success related to fluid mechanics. Its major importance is the ability to deal with discontinuities and still provide high order of approximation. That is an important advantage when simulating cracking propagation. No remeshing is necessary during the propagation, since the crack path follows the interface of elements. However, DGM comes with the drawback of an increased number of degrees of freedom when compared to the classical continuous finite element method. Thus, it seems a natural approach to combine them in the same simulation obtaining the advantages of both methods. This paper proposes the application of the combined continuous-discontinuous Galerkin method (CDGM) to crack propagation. An important engineering problem is the simulation of crack propagation in concrete structures. The problem is characterized by discontinuities that evolve throughout the domain. Crack propagation is simulated using CDGM. Discontinuous elements are placed in regions with discontinuities and continuous elements elsewhere. The cohesive zone model describes the fracture process zone where softening effects are expressed by cohesive zones in the interface of elements. Two numerical examples demonstrate the capacities of CDGM. In the first example, a plain concrete beam is submitted to a three-point bending test. Numerical results are compared to experimental data from the literature. The second example deals with a full-scale ground slab, comparing the CDGM results to numerical and experimental data from the literature.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.519-525
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• 2009

In this study a cohesive zone model was used to simulate the delamination phenomena which occurs by a successive crack initiation and propagation in composite laminates. The cohesive zone model was incorporated to the classical finite element method via cohesive element formulation and then implemented into the user-subroutine UEL of a commercial finite element program Abaqus. To validate the formulation and implementation of the cohesive element the finite element results were compared with the experimental data of double cantilever beam and end notched flexure tests. The numerical results well agree with the experimental load-displacement curves. Also the effect of the elastic stiffness and the size of the cohesive element on the global load-displacement curves were studied numerically. To minimize the mesh-dependency of the crack propagation path and eliminate the zig-zag patterns in the load-displacement curve, cohesive elements should be refined at the crack-tip.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.919-926
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• 2014

In this paper, the effect of material properties on fracture behavior was studied using cohesive zone model and extended finite element method. The rectangular tensile specimen with a central inclined initial crack was modeled by plane stress elements. In the CZM modeling, cohesive elements were inserted between every bulk elements in the predicted crack propagation region before analysis, while in the XFEM the enrichment to the elements was added as needed during analysis. The crack propagation behavior was examined for brittle and ductile materials. For thin specimen configuration, wrinkle deformation was accounted for by geometrically nonlinear post-buckling analysis and the effect of wrinkling on the crack propagation was investigated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.207-222
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• 2019

This paper has presented an effective and accurate meso-scale finite element model for simulating the fracture process of concrete under compression-shear loading. In the proposed model, concrete is parted into four important phases: aggregates, cement matrix, interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and the initial defects. Aggregate particles were modelled as randomly distributed polygons with a varying size according to the sieve curve developed by Fuller and Thompson. With regard to initial defects, only voids are considered. Cohesive elements with zero thickness are inserted into the initial mesh of cement matrix and along the interface between aggregate and cement matrix to simulate the cracking process of concrete. The constitutive model provided by ABAQUS is modified based on Wang's experiment and used to describe the failure behaviour of cohesive elements. User defined programs for aggregate delivery, cohesive element insertion and modified facture constitutive model are developed based on Python language, and embedded into the commercial FEM package ABAQUS. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed model are firstly identified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental ones, and then it is used to investigate the effect of meso-structure on the macro behavior of concrete. The shear strength of concrete under different pressures is also involved in this study, which could provide a reference for the macroscopic simulation of concrete component under shear force.