Together with my colleagues Robert Bitsche and Martin Alexander Eder we have successfuly implemented and validated the new fracture analysis module in BECAS. The module allows for the calculation of the strain energy release rate based on the Virtual crack Closure Technique. Validation results show a very good agreement between BECAS and ABAQUS using solid finite elements.
Figure above: Strain energy release rate for a bi-material beam with a longitudinal crack. The beam is subjected to a transverse force. Left is warping deformation of a cross section at the center of the beam. Left is Mode 2 strain energy release rate along the length of the beam - comparisong between BECAS and ABAQUS using solid finite elements. Results show that both methods agree very well.