Coupled peridynamic model for geometrically nonlinear deformation and fracture analysis of thin shell structures

In this work, a coupling shell model that integrates peridynamics and classical continuum mechanics (CCM) to analyze the fracture process of thin shell structures under geometrically nonlinear deformations is developed. First, the updated Lagrangian formulation is used to derive the formulations of virtual strain energy density under each geometrically nonlinear incremental step, and then the constitutive model of the geometrically nonlinear peridynamic (PD) shell is established via the principle of virtual work and the homogenization assumption. Second, the PD-CCM coupling model for the geometrically nonlinear shell is established by using the morphing method, and the fracture criterion suitable for the coupling model is given. Finally, the validity and accuracy of the proposed coupling model are confirmed by analysis of the fracture process of thin shell structures under different load conditions.