Simulation of the fracture process through a damage model in different materials

Abstract

The study of fracture mechanics is directed to the analysis of the capability of the material to resist mechanical stress without the occurrence of failure. The presence of small cracks can reduce the structural strength of the component enabling, in some cases, the collapse of the structure under a lower stress than the structural ultimate strength. Currently, the use of methodologies that address the problem of fracture in structural components to representing the macroscopic regime of the structure through the coupling of numerical models is used becoming increasing. In this aspect, finite element method has been used with the concept of fracture mechanics and continuum mechanics through to evaluate the damage in a structure. These approaches has been developed both for analysis of structural failure in different materials (fragile, ductile and composite). However, the correct incorporation of mechanical and phenomenological aspects inherent to the mechanisms of failure is a key factor to the success and effectiveness of such preventive methodologies. The goal of the present work was using the Finite Elements Method (FEM) together with the concepts of the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) to reproduce numerical models of fracture testing on different types of materials. Finally, to incorporate to the numerical models damage mechanisms capable of analyze the fracture processes, was used a constitutive relation based on models of cracking strain.