SUMMARY

The analysis of discontinuous material behavior (such as cracks in thin films and voids in concrete blocks) is computationally costly for the standard finite element method (FEM) to carry out, if a solution can be found at all. To deal with this problem, the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) was developed. Its defining characteristic is the addition of extra degrees of freedom to the standard FEM formulation so as to incorporate a priori knowledge of the particular discontinuities present in a model. This should lead to an increase in analysis efficiency, as well as solutions to previously insoluble problems. This research focused on creating an XFEM-based user element in the commercial FE program Abaqus to couple XFEM capability to the wide range of existing Abaqus functionalities. It was inspired by Philips Applied Technologies' work with flexible displays and stretchable electronics.