Frequency domain structural synthesis for quasi-static crack propagation: Global–local analysis

Computational efficiencies of a general formulation for frequency domain structural synthesis are exploited in its development as a flexible framework for global–local static and dynamic analysis. Functioning either as a substructure coupling or structural modification procedure, a quasi-static crack propagation analysis is performed demonstrating both computational efficiency and ease in coupling a local analysis to a global finite element analysis. The two alternative algorithms, based on substructure coupling and structural modification, are compared, and are also compared to a traditional finite element solution, and experimental data. The synthesis-based algorithms are shown to significantly outperform the traditional finite element solution.