On tracking arbitrary crack path with complex variable meshless methods

This study presents a numerical modelling framework based on complex variable meshless methods, which can accurately and efficiently track arbitrary crack paths in two-dimensional linear elastic solids. The key novelty of this work is that the proposed meshless modelling scheme enables a direct element-free approximation for the solutions of linear elastic fracture mechanics problems. The complex variable moving least-squares approximation with a group of simple complex polynomial basis is applied to implement this meshless model, with which the fracture problems with both stationary or progressive cracks are considered and studied. The effects of choosing different definitions of weighted complex variable error norm and different forms of complex polynomial basis on the computational accuracy of crack tip fields and crack paths prediction are analysed and discussed. Five benchmark numerical examples were studied to demonstrate the superiority of the present complex variable meshless framework over a standard element-free Galerkin method in tracking arbitrary crack paths in two-dimensional elastic solids.