A Multiscale Approach for the Modelling of Failure

In the present contribution a multi–scale – or rather two–scale – framework for the modelling of propagating discontinuities is introduced. The method is based on the Variational Multiscale Method. The displacement field is additively decomposed into a coarse– and a fine–scale part. This kinematic assumption implies a separation of the weak form in two equations, corresponding to the coarse–scale and the fine–scale problem. Both scales are discretized by means of finite elements. On the fine–scale, due to a much finer discretization, a heteregeneous mesostructure and propagating mesocracks can be considered. The propagation of the mesocracks is simulated independently of the underlying finite element mesh by discontinuous elements. The performance of the multi–scale approach is shown by a numerical example. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)