Coupling of FEM and ordinary state-based peridynamics for brittle failure analysis in 3D

This paper presents a method to couple FEM meshes with ordinary state-based peridynamic grids. It generates a computational tool that is as efficient as computer methods based on classical continuum mechanics and as flexible as peridynamics in dealing with crack propagation. Moreover, it removes most of the problems due to the surface effects typical of nonlocal methods such as OSB-PD. The adaptive dynamic relaxation approach is used to solve linear elastic and crack propagation problems. The method is successfully applied to a complex crack propagation case in 3 D and is able to accurately reproduce the shape of the experimentally observed crack.