Ordinary-state based peridynamic truss element

This study presents a truss element that accounts for the peridynamic interactions among the finite element nodes. However, these interactions result in a sparsely populated global system stiffness matrix. Therefore, the skyline technique is used in the solution of resulting system of equations until damage initiates; then the explicit time integration to monitor damage progression. The major advantage of this element is the construction of the solution immediately before failure occurs with much less computational effort. In the absence of failure, the predictions from the peridynamic truss element are verified against finite element analysis with traditional elements. Also, a plate with a hole under tension is considered to demonstrate crack initiation and its propagation.