Analysis of delamination growth with discontinuous solid-like shell elements

Abstract

In this contribution a new finite element is presented for the simulation of delamination growth in thin layered composite materials. The element is based on the solid-like shell element, a volume element that can be used in very thin applications due to a higher order displacement field in thickness direction. The delamination crack is incorporated in this element as a jump of the displacement field by means of the partition of unity method. The kinematics of the element as well as the finite element formulation are described. The performance of the element is demonstrated by means of two examples.