Geometrically non-linear and consistently linearized embedded strong discontinuity models for 3D problems with an application to the dissection analysis of soft biological tissues Original Research Article

Three different finite element formulations with embedded strong discontinuities are derived on the basis of the enhanced assumed strain method. According to the work by Jirásek and Zimmermann [Int. J. Numer. Methods Engrg. 50 (2001) 1269] they are referred to as statically optimal symmetric (SOS), kinematically optimal symmetric (KOS) and statically and kinematically optimal non-symmetric (SKON) formulations. The effect of the discontinuities are characterized by additional degrees of freedom on the element level. Modifications to the standard KOS and SKON formulations are proposed in order to achieve consistency with the employed type of a three-field Hu–Washizu principle under mode-I condition. Under this condition the formulation satisfies the internal compatibility at the discontinuity, i.e. the relation between the stress in the bulk material and the traction across the discontinuity surface, which is not the case for the classical KOS formulation. We propose a suitable explicit expression for a transversely isotropic traction law in form of a displacement–energy function and assume that softening phenomena in the cohesive zone are modeled by a damage law, which depends on the maximum gap displacement of the deformation path. A linearization of all quantities, which are related to the non-linear problem, leads to new closed form expressions. In particular, we focus attention on the linearization of the cohesive traction vector. The associated element residua and stiffness matrices are provided. Standard static condensation of the internal degree of freedom leads to a generalized displacement model. A comparative study of the modified formulations, carried out by means of two numerical examples, show the performance of the individual approach. We employ constant-strain tetrahedral elements with a single discontinuity embedded. Among the known stress locking phenomena associated with the SOS formulation, we recognized that the (non-symmetric) SKON formulation was not able to provide meaningful results for the dissection process of an arterial layer in three-dimensions on distorted meshes. For both numerical examples the (symmetric) KOS formulation seems to be most suitable for representing the embedded discontinuities.