Enrichment of enhanced assumed strain approximations for representing strong discontinuities: Addressing volumetric incompressibility and the discontinuous patch test

We present a geometrically non-linear assumed strain method that allows for the presence of arbitrary, intra-finite element discontinuities in the deformation map. Special attention is placed on the coarse-mesh accuracy of these methods and their ability to avoid mesh locking in the incompressible limit. Given an underlying mesh and an arbitrary failure surface, we first construct an enriched approximation for the deformation map with the non-linear analogue of the extended finite element method (X-FEM). With regard to the richer space of functions spanned by the gradient of the enriched approximation, we then adopt a broader interpretation of variational consistency for the construction of the enhanced strain. In particular, in those elements intersected by the failure surface, we construct enhanced strain approximations which are orthogonal to piecewise-constant stress fields. Contrast is drawn with existing strong discontinuity approaches where the enhanced strain variations in localized elements were constructed to be orthogonal to constant nominal stress fields. Importantly, the present formulation gives rise to a symmetric tangent stiffness matrix, even in localized elements. The present modification also allows for the satisfaction of a discontinuous patch test, wherein two different constant stress fields (on each side of the failure surface) lie in the solution space. We demonstrate how the proposed modifications eliminate spurious stress oscillations along the failure surface, particularly for nearly incompressible material response. Additional numerical examples are provided to illustrate the efficacy of the modified method for problems in hyperelastic fracture mechanics. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.