Numerical modeling of crack growth under dynamic loading conditions (Q1370245)

A framework for modeling crack growth is described that is based on introducing one or more cohesive surfaces into a continuum. Constitutive relations are specified independently for the material and for the cohesive surfaces. Fracture emerges as a natural outcome of the deformation process, without introducing an additional failure criterion. The characterization of the mechanical response of a cohesive surface involves both an interfacial strength and the work of separation per unit area, which introduces a characteristic length into the formulation. Finite element analyses are carried out for a plane strain block with an initial central cracks, subject to impact loading.