FEA or FEM (Finite element analysis or method ) might have encountered by your ears if you are in engineering ethos. But for this project we took one step ahead and applied XFEM ( extended finite element analysis method ) to simulate the crack propagation on a mechanical part.

In this world, there is nothing perfect. Not humans and not matter. Every material found in nature or manufactured has some kind of flaws in it either in form of  voids of micro cracks. Due to this, when this things are put on test, we get less strength than expected. Our group decided to hands on this project. 

In order to simulate nature, we placed micro cracks at different angles on a part and simulated it under different loading conditions. Not only we did simulational analysis, but we also matched it’s results with theoretical approach. Further more, taking it to next level of accuracy, we carried out experiments by creating micro crack with laser on acrylic plates and testing them against UTM. It was more than a year long project specifically in the midst of COVID-19 lockdown. 

Methodology : 

> Studying the relevant topics of Fracture Mechanics, ABAQUS software, UTM machine operation.

> Literature review.

> Modelling and simulating part in ABAQUS

> Theoretical results

> Carrying out experiments 

> Comparing results