A novel semi-explicit numerical algorithm for efficient 3D phase field modelling of quasi-brittle fracture

authored by: Lu Hai, Hui Zhang, Peter Wriggers, Yu jie Huang, Ye Feng, Philipp Junker
Abstract: Phase field models have become an effective tool for predicting complex crack configurations including initiation, propagation, branching, intersecting and merging. However, several computational issues have hindered their utilisation in engineering practice, such as the convergence challenge in implicit algorithms, numerical stability issues in explicit methods and significant computational costs. Aiming to providing a more efficient numerical algorithm, this work integrates the explicit integral operator with the recently developed neighbored element method, for the first time, to solve the coupled governing equations in phase field models. In addition, the damage irreversibility can be ensured automatically, avoiding the need to introduce extra history variable for the maximum driving force in traditional algorithms. Six representative fracture benchmarks with different failure modes are simulated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, including the multiple cracks in heterogeneous concrete at mesoscale. It is found that this semi-explicit numerical algorithm yields consistent crack profiles and load capacities for all examples to the available experimental data and literature. In particular, the computational cost is significantly reduced when compared to the traditional explicit modelling. Therefore, the presented numerical algorithm is highly attractive and promising for phase-field simulations of complicated 3D solid fractures in structural-level engineering practices.
Organisation(s): Institute of Continuum Mechanics
External Organisation(s): Ocean University of China
North University of China
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Type: Article
Journal: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Volume: 432
ISSN: 0045-7825
Publication date: 27.09.2024
Publication status: E-pub ahead of print
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Computational Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Astronomy(all), Computer Science Applications
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2024.117416 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{3d7da8e24a3c411884d0b5e415df0906,
title = "A novel semi-explicit numerical algorithm for efficient 3D phase field modelling of quasi-brittle fracture",
abstract = "Phase field models have become an effective tool for predicting complex crack configurations including initiation, propagation, branching, intersecting and merging. However, several computational issues have hindered their utilisation in engineering practice, such as the convergence challenge in implicit algorithms, numerical stability issues in explicit methods and significant computational costs. Aiming to providing a more efficient numerical algorithm, this work integrates the explicit integral operator with the recently developed neighbored element method, for the first time, to solve the coupled governing equations in phase field models. In addition, the damage irreversibility can be ensured automatically, avoiding the need to introduce extra history variable for the maximum driving force in traditional algorithms. Six representative fracture benchmarks with different failure modes are simulated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, including the multiple cracks in heterogeneous concrete at mesoscale. It is found that this semi-explicit numerical algorithm yields consistent crack profiles and load capacities for all examples to the available experimental data and literature. In particular, the computational cost is significantly reduced when compared to the traditional explicit modelling. Therefore, the presented numerical algorithm is highly attractive and promising for phase-field simulations of complicated 3D solid fractures in structural-level engineering practices.",
keywords = "3D fracture, Mixed-mode fracture, Neighbored element method, Phase field modelling, Semi-explicit numerical algorithm",
author = "Lu Hai and Hui Zhang and Peter Wriggers and Huang, {Yu jie} and Ye Feng and Philipp Junker",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 Elsevier B.V.",
year = "2024",
month = sep,
day = "27",
doi = "10.1016/j.cma.2024.117416",
language = "English",
volume = "432",
journal = "Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering",
issn = "0045-7825",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}