Brittle interfacial cracking between two dissimilar elastic layers: part 2-numerical verification

A thorough program of 2D finite element method (FEM) simulations is carried out parametrically on a bimaterial double cantilever beam (DCB) model in MSC/NASTRAN. The Young's modulus ratio, the Poisson's ratio, the thickness ratio, and the DCB tip loads are varied over their entire practically useful domains for different values of the crack extension size. Extensive comparisons are made between the results of the analytical theory that was developed in Part 1 by Harvey et al. (2015) and FEM results. This paper reports the outcome of these comparisons. The present analytical theory and the supporting mathematical techniques are thoroughly verified. Overall, excellent agreement is observed between the present analytical theory and the FEM results for the crack extension size-dependent energy release rate (ERR) components and the stress intensity factors (SIFs).