Adaptive PD-FEM coupling method for modeling pseudo-static crack growth in orthotropic media

In this study bond-based peridynamic formulation is developed and coupled with the finite element method (FEM) to simulate crack growth in orthotropic materials. The coupled PD-FEM formulation gives an opportunity to use both peridynamic and finite element method advantages simultaneously. The Legendre functions are implemented to define varying bond properties according to the material orientation. Pseudo-static crack propagation in the composite materials is simulated and it is shown that the proposed method is able to predict crack growth in orthotropic materials faster than the conventional PD methods. Accuracy of the proposed method is demonstrated through comparison of the results against those of numerical studies which are available in the literature.