Monte Carlo simulation of complex cohesive fracture in random heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials

A numerical method is developed to simulate complex two-dimensional crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials considering random heterogeneous fracture properties. Potential cracks are represented by pre-inserted cohesive elements with tension and shear softening constitutive laws modelled by spatially-varying Weibull random fields. Monte Carlo simulations of a concrete specimen under uni-axial tension were carried out with extensive investigation of the effects of important numerical algorithms and material properties on numerical efficiency and stability, crack propagation processes and load-carrying capacities. It was found that the homogeneous model led to incorrect crack patterns and load–displacement curves with strong mesh-dependence, whereas the heterogeneous model predicted realistic, complicated fracture processes and load-carrying capacity of little mesh-dependence. Increasing the variance of the tensile strength random fields with increased heterogeneity led to reduction in the mean peak load and increase in the standard deviation. The developed method provides a simple but effective tool for assessment of structural reliability and calculation of characteristic material strength for structural design.     

FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING OF COMPLEX 3D STATIC AND DYNAMIC CRACK PROPAGATION BY EMBEDDING COHESIVE ELEMENTS IN ABAQUS

<正>This study proposes an algorithm of embedding cohesive elements in Abaqus and develops the computer code to model 3D complex crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials in a relatively easy and efficient manner.The cohesive elements with softening traction-separation relations and damage initiation and evolution laws are embedded between solid elements in regions of interest in the initial mesh to model potential cracks.The initial mesh can consist of tetrahedrons,wedges,bricks or a mixture of these elements.Neither remeshing nor objective crack propagation criteria are needed.Four examples of concrete specimens,including a wedge-splitting test,a notched beam under torsion,a pull-out test of an anchored cylinder and a notched beam under impact,were modelled and analysed.The simulated crack propagation processes and load-displacement curves agreed well with test results or other numerical simulations for all the examples using initial meshes with reasonable densities.Making use of Abaqus's rich pre/post-processing functionalities and powerful standard/explicit solvers,the developed method offers a practical tool for engineering analysts to model complex 3D fracture problems.     

Analysis on the cohesive stress at half infinite crack tip

The nonlinear fracture behavior of quasi-brittle materials is closely related with the cohesive force distribution of fracture process zone at crack tip. Based on fracture character of quasi-brittle materials, a mechanical analysis model of half infinite crack with cohesive stress is presented. A pair of integral equations is established according to the superposition principle of crack opening displacement in solids, and the fictitious adhesive stress is unknown function . The properties of integral equations are analyzed, and the series function expression of cohesive stress is certified. By means of the data of actual crack opening displacement, two approaches to gain the cohesive stress distribution are proposed through resolving algebra equation. They are the integral transformation method for continuous displacement of actual crack opening, and the least square method for the discrete data of crack opening displacement. The calculation examples of two approaches and associated discussions are give     

随机超载对疲劳裂纹扩展迟滞效应的模拟

考虑超载的迟滞效应,对随机超载作用下的疲劳裂纹扩展进行了模拟计算．载荷谱为在基本恒幅循环载荷基础上加入一以泊松流发生的随机超载序列,超载的大小为均匀分布．采用裂纹闭合模型考虑超载的迟滞效应,认为裂纹张开应力在超载引起的塑性区内按线性规律衰减．循环续循环模拟计算出裂纹从初始长度一直到疲劳破坏的扩展曲线．据此,计算了各种超载发生强度和大小下的疲劳裂纹扩展寿命的平均值与标准差。     

Discrete fracture modeling of asphalt concrete

A heterogeneous fracture approach is presented for modeling asphalt concrete that is composed of solid inclusions and a viscous matrix, and is subjected to mode-I loading in the fracture test configuration. A heterogeneous fracture model, based on the discrete element method (DEM), is developed to investigate various fracture toughening mechanisms of asphalt materials using a high-resolution image processing technique. An energy-based bilinear cohesive zone model is used to model the crack initiation and propagation of materials, and is implemented as a user-defined model within the discrete element method. Experimental fracture tests are performed to investigate various fracture behavior of asphalt concrete and obtain material input parameters for numerical models. Also, bulk material properties are necessary for each material phase for heterogeneous numerical models; these properties are determined by uniaxial complex modulus tests and indirect tensile strength tests. The main objective of this study is to integrate the experimental tests and numerical models in order to better understand the fracture mechanisms of asphaltic heterogeneous materials. Experimental results and numerical simulations are compared at different test conditions with excellent agreement. The heterogeneous DEM fracture modeling approach has the potential capability to understand various crack mechanisms of quasi-brittle materials.     

A thermo-mechanical cohesive zone formulation for ductile fracture

The paper addresses the possibility to project both mechanical and thermal phenomena pertinent to the fracture process zone into a cohesive zone. A wider interpretation of the notion cohesive zone is thereby suggested to comprise not only stress degradation due to micro-cracking but also heat generation and energy transport. According to our experience, this widening of the cohesive zone concept allows for a more efficient finite element simulation of ductile fracture. The key feature of the formulation concerns the thermo-mechanical cohesive zone model, evolving within the thermo-hyperelastoplastic continuum, allowing for the concurrent modelling of both heat generation, due to the fracture process, and heat transfer across the fracture process zone. This is accomplished via thermodynamic arguments to obtain the coupled governing equation of motion, energy equation, and constitutive equations. The deformation map is thereby defined in terms of independent continuous and discontinuous portions of the displacement field. In addition, as an extension of the displacement kinematics, to represent the temperature field associated with the discontinuous heat flux across the fracture interface, a matching discontinuous temperature field involving the interface (or band) temperature is proposed. In the first numerical example, concerning dynamic quasi-brittle crack propagation in a thermo-hyperelastoplastic material, we capture the initial increase in temperature close to the crack surface due to the energy dissipating fracture process. In the second example, a novel application of ductile fracture simulation to the process of high velocity (adiabatic) cutting is considered, where some general trends are observed when varying the cutting velocity.     

面内裂纹扩展问题的虚拟裂纹闭合法和离散内聚力模型

论文介绍了处理面内裂纹扩展问题的两种断裂单元,分别为处理线性问题的VCCT哑节点断裂单元和处理非线性问题的DCZM断裂单元.并与有限元软件ABAQUS的断裂单元相对比,以验证其计算准确性和对网格、步长等不敏感性,以及计算效率高等特点.     

Construction of quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fracture diagrams based on necessary and sufficient criteria

Materials with a regular structure characterized by quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fractures are considered in the case where the characteristic linear dimension of the structural element is known. Necessary and sufficient fracture criteria are constructed using the Neuber-Novozhilov approach. A modified Leonov-Panasyuk-Dugdale model for an opening mode crack is proposed where the width of the prefracture zone coincides with the width of the plasticity zone. For the critical parameters of quasi-brittle fracture (tensile stress, length of prefracture zones, stress intensity factors), relations are obtained that allow material fracture to be considered in the case where the crack length is negligible compared to the characteristic linear dimension of the structural element. A fracture diagram obtained using the critical stresses calculated from the necessary and sufficient criteria is considered in a wide range of crack lengths. The elastoplastic problem of extension of a plate with a central crack is solved using the finite-element method. The dimensions and shape of the plastic zone near the crack tip are determined for different levels of loads corresponding to quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fracture. The obtained results are analyzed to estimate the width of the prefracture zone and the critical crack opening.     

Effect of Randomness of Interfacial Properties on Fracture Behavior of Concrete Under Uniaxial Tension

Interfacial transition zones(ITZs) between aggregates and mortar are the weakest parts in concrete. The random aggregate generation and packing algorithm was utilized to create a two-phase concrete model, and the zero-thickness cohesive elements with different normal distribution parameters were used to model the ITZs with random mechanical properties. A number of uniaxial tension-induced fracture simulations were carried out, and the effects of the random parameters on the fracture behavior of concrete were statistically analyzed. The results show that, different from the dissipated fracture energy, the peak load of concrete does not always obey a normal distribution, when the elastic stiffness, tensile strength, or fracture energy of ITZs is normally distributed. The tensile strength of the ITZs has a significant effect on the fracture behavior of concrete, and its large standard deviation leads to obvious diversity of the fracture path in both location and shape.     

准脆性材料中强不连续问题的数值方法若干应用及其研究进展

综述了模拟准脆性材料开裂过程的数值计算方法的研究进展和工程应用,比较了表征强不连续问题的显式非连续模型和隐式非连续模型的优缺点.结合混凝土粘结裂纹, 重点讨论了嵌入非连续模型,扩展有限元方法和富集有限元技术等非连续方法的构造特征和本质区别.从各种富集方法的理论完备性考察,以假定发展应变为基础的嵌入非连续方法虽然可以解决混凝土开裂过程中的应力锁死,满足内部边界的静力平衡条件以及反映开裂后的位移不连续问题,但嵌入非连续所采用的富集函数在开裂单元中并不能满足协调条件,使非连续两侧的应变不独立. 其局限性是由于富集自由度在单元的水平上引入,而以单位分解为基础的扩展有限元和富集有限元的富集函数以节点自由度的方式引入,除具有嵌入非连续的优点, 还可以有效消除嵌入非连续引起裂纹两侧应变的相互影响.文中同时指出了网格重构技术,弥散裂纹模型的局限性以及扩展有限元和富集有限元技术在构造方式上的细微差别.对于节点自由度方式引入的富集函数, 其操作困难性在文中也作了说明.      

An energy-based crack growth criterion for modelling elastic–plastic ductile fracture

A crack growth criterion is derived based on the Griffith energy concept and the cohesive zone model for modelling fracture in elastic–plastic ductile materials. The criterion is implemented in the finite element context by a virtual crack extension technique. An automatic modelling of the ductile fracture process is realised by combining a local remeshing procedure and the criterion. The validity of the derived criterion is examined by modelling a compact tension specimen.     

Initiation and propagation of complex 3D networks of cracks in heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials: Direct comparison between in situ testing-microCT experiments and phase field simulations

We provide the first direct comparisons, to our knowledge, of complex 3D micro cracking initiation and propagation in heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials modelled by the phase field numerical method and observed in X-ray microtomography images recorded during in situ mechanical testing. Some material parameters of the damage model, including the process zone (internal) length, are identified by an inverse approach combining experimental data and 3D simulations. A new technique is developed to study the micro cracking at a finer scale by prescribing the local displacements measured by digital volume correlation over the boundary of a small sub-volume inside the sample during the numerical simulations. The comparisons, performed on several samples of lightweight plaster and concrete, show a remarkable quantitative agreement between the 3D crack morphology obtained by the model and by the experiments, without any a priori knowledge about the location of the initiation of the cracks in the numerical model. The results indicate that the crack paths can be predicted in a fully deterministic way in spite of the highly random geometry of the microstructure and the brittle nature of its constituents.     

Heterogeneous Fracture Simulation of Three-point Bending Plain-concrete Beam with Double Notches

Plain concrete is regarded as a two-phase material comprising randomly distributed aggregates and mortar matrix. A series of three-point bending concrete beams with symmetric or asymmetric double notches are modeled using the modified random aggregate generation and packing algorithm. The cohesive zone model is used as the fracture criterion and the cohesive elements are inserted into both the mortar matrix and the aggregate-mortar interfaces as potential micro-cracking zones. The dead and alive crack phenomena are studied experimentally and numerically; and the influences of notch location, aggregate distribution and gradation on fracture are numerically evaluated. Some important conclusions are given.     

水力劈裂问题的态型近场动力学建模

将态型近场动力学理论引入水力劈裂问题的模拟。构建了能反映岩土类材料准脆性断裂特征的态型近场动力学本构模型,并在物质点间相互作用力模型中加入等效水压力项,以实现在新生裂纹面上跟踪施加水压力。同时,考虑裂纹面间的接触,引入物质点间的短程排斥力作用,并设计了相应的接触算法。通过自编程序将模型和算法应用于含初始裂纹、不含初始裂纹以及含坝基软弱结构面的混凝土重力坝在高水头作用下的水力劈裂过程模拟,并与扩展有限元等模拟结果对比,验证了本文模型和算法的可行性和准确性。     

Inverse Estimation of Cohesive Fracture Properties of Asphalt Mixtures Using an Optimization Approach

Tensile cracking in asphalt pavements due to vehicular and thermal loads has become an experimental and numerical research focus in the asphalt materials community. Previous studies have used the discrete element method (DEM) to study asphalt concrete fracture. These studies used trial-and-error to obtain local fracture properties such that the DEM models approximate the experimental load-crack mouth opening displacement response. In the current study, we identify the cohesive fracture properties of asphalt mixtures via a nonlinear optimization method. The method encompasses a comparative investigation of displacement fields obtained using both digital image correlation (DIC) and heterogeneous DEM fracture simulations. The proposed method is applied to two standard fracture test geometries: the single-edge notched beam test, SE(B), under three-point bending, and the disk-shaped compact tension test, DC(T). For each test, the Subset Splitting DIC algorithm is used to determine the displacement field in a predefined region near the notch tip. Then, a given number of DEM simulations are performed on the same specimen. The DEM is used to simulate the fracture of asphalt concrete with a linear softening cohesive contact model, where fracture-related properties (e.g., maximum tensile force and maximum crack opening) are varied within a predefined range. The difference between DIC and DEM displacement fields for each set of fracture parameters is then computed and converted to a continuous function via multivariate Lagrange interpolation. Finally, we use a Newton-like optimization technique to minimize Lagrange multinomials, yielding a set of fracture parameters that minimizes the difference between the DEM and DIC displacement fields. The optimized set of fracture parameters from this nonlinear optimization procedure led to DEM results which are consistent with the experimental results for both SE(B) and DC(T) geometries.     

A comparison of cohesive zone modeling and classical fracture mechanics based on near tip stress field

A mode III crack with a cohesive zone in a power-law hardening material is studied under small scale yielding conditions. The cohesive law follows a softening path with the peak traction at the start of separation process. The stress and strain fields in the plastic zone, and the cohesive traction and separation displacement in the cohesive zone are obtained. The results show that for a modest hardening material (with a hardening exponent N = 0.3), the stress distribution in a large portion of the plastic zone is significantly altered with the introduction of the cohesive zone if the peak cohesive traction is less than two times yield stress, which implies the disparity in terms of the fracture prediction between the classical approach of elastic–plastic fracture mechanics and the cohesive zone approach. The stress distributions with and without the cohesive zone converge when the peak cohesive traction becomes infinitely large. A qualitative study on the equivalency between the cohesive zone approach and the classical linear elastic fracture mechanics indicates that smaller cracks require a higher peak cohesive traction than that for longer cracks if similar fracture initiations are to be predicted by the two approaches.     

A unified potential-based cohesive model of mixed-mode fracture

A generalized potential-based constitutive model for mixed-mode cohesive fracture is presented in conjunction with physical parameters such as fracture energy, cohesive strength and shape of cohesive interactions. It characterizes different fracture energies in each fracture mode, and can be applied to various material failure behavior (e.g. quasi-brittle). The unified potential leads to both intrinsic (with initial slope indicators to control elastic behavior) and extrinsic cohesive zone models. Path dependence of work-of-separation is investigated with respect to proportional and non-proportional paths—this investigation demonstrates consistency of the cohesive constitutive model. The potential-based model is verified by simulating a mixed-mode bending test. The actual potential is named PPR (Park-Paulino-Roesler), after the first initials of the authors’ last names.     

Strength and fracture toughness of heterogeneous blocks with joint lognormal modulus and failure strain

We obtain analytical approximations to the probability distribution of the fracture strengths of notched one-dimensional rods and two-dimensional plates in which the stiffness (Young’s modulus) and strength (failure strain) of the material vary as jointly lognormal random fields. The fracture strength of the specimen is measured by the elongation, load, and toughness at two critical stages: when fracture initiates at the notch tip and, in the 2D case, when fracture propagates through the entire specimen. This is an extension of a previous study on the elastic and fracture properties of systems with random Young’s modulus and deterministic material strength (Dimas et al., 2015a). For 1D rods our approach is analytical and builds upon the ANOVA decomposition technique of (Dimas et al., 2015b). In 2D we use a semi-analytical model to derive the fracture initiation strengths and regressions fitted to simulation data for the effect of crack arrest during fracture propagation. Results are validated through Monte Carlo simulation. Randomness of the material strength affects in various ways the mean and median values of the initial strengths, their log-variances, and log-correlations. Under low spatial correlation, material strength variability can significantly increase the effect of crack arrest, causing ultimate failure to be a more predictable and less brittle failure mode than fracture initiation. These insights could be used to guide design of more fracture resistant composites, and add to the design features that enhance material performance.