We investigate collisions (assumed to be instantaneous) and fractures of three-dimensional solids. Equations of motion and constitutive laws provide a set of partial differential equations, whose corresponding variational problem may be solved in the space of special functions with bounded deformations (), exploiting the direct method of calculus of variations.
In linear fracture mechanics, it is common to use the local Irwin criterion or the equivalent global Griffith criterion for decision whether the crack is propagating or not. In both cases, a quantity called the stress intensity factor can be used. In this paper, four methods are compared to calculate the stress intensity factor numerically; namely by using the stress values, the shape of a crack, nodal reactions and the global energetic method. The most accurate global energetic method is used to...
This paper addresses analytical investigations of degenerating PDE systems for phase separation and damage processes considered on nonsmooth time-dependent domains with mixed boundary conditions for the displacement field. The evolution of the system is described by a degenerating Cahn-Hilliard equation for the concentration, a doubly nonlinear differential inclusion for the damage variable and a quasi-static balance equation for the displacement field. The analysis is performed on a time-dependent...
We introduce the space of generalized functions of bounded deformation and study the structure properties of these functions: the rectiability and the slicing properties of their jump sets, and the existence of their approximate symmetric gradients. We conclude by proving a compactness results for , which leads to a compactness result for the space of generalized special functions of bounded deformation. The latter is connected to the existence of solutions to a weak formulation of some variational...
Although the intellectual merits of computational modelling across various length and time scales are generally well accepted, good illustrative examples are often lacking. One way to begin appreciating the benefits of the multiscale approach is to first gain experience in probing complex physical phenomena at one scale at a time. Here we discuss materials modelling at two characteristic scales separately, the atomistic level where interactions are specified through classical potentials and the...
Computational analysis of quasi-brittle fracture in cement-based and similar composites, supplied by various types of rod, fibre, etc. reinforcement, is crucial for the prediction of their load bearing ability and durability, but rather difficult because of the risk of initiation of zones of microscopic defects, followed by formation and propagation of a large number of macroscopic cracks. A reasonable and complete deterministic description of relevant physical processes is rarely available. Thus,...
This paper presents the main concept and several key features of the user-defined interface of COMSOL Java API for the solution of mechanical problems in fractured rock. This commercial computational system based on FEM has yet to incorporate fractures in mechanical problems. Our aim is to solve a 2D mechanical problem with a fracture which is defined separately from finite-element discretization and the fracture properties are included through the constitutive laws. This will be performed based...