Numerical simulation of crack propagation in shell structures using interface shell elements

In this study, we present a novel finite element approach to simulate crack propagation in shell structures. A local spider-web mesh is placed at the tip of a crack propagating through a global background mesh. Interface shell elements with assumed natural strains are used to connect a non-matching interface between the background mesh and the local spider-web mesh. Interface shell elements are also employed for trimmed shell elements created by...