Three-dimensional contact and fracture analysis for safety assessment of structures

该项目旨在解决工程结构的安全评估，考虑界面和裂缝，这几乎总是结构系统的最薄弱的部分。基于比例边界多面体单元和数学规划，建立了模拟界面和裂纹面接触以及模拟变载荷下裂纹扩展的新的数值方法。预计开发的数值模拟工具将是强大的，全自动的。该项目的预期成果是一种创新的数值模拟技术和一种合理的预测工具，可用于工程结构的成本效益和及时规划、设计和管理。

This project aims to address the safety assessment of engineering structures considering interfaces and cracks, which are nearly always the weakest parts of a structure system. Novel numerical approaches to model the contact of interfaces and crack faces and to simulate crack propagation under variable loads will be established based on the scaled boundary polytope elements and mathematical programming. It is anticipated that the developed numerical simulation tool will be robust and fully automatic. The intended outcome of this project is an innovative technology for numerical simulation and a rational predictive tool useful for cost-effective and timely planning, design and management of engineering structures.