MODELLING OF CRACK PROPAGATION: COMPARISON OF DISCRETE LATTICE SYSTEM AND COHESIVE ZONE MODEL

Authors

  • Karel Mikeš Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic
  • Franz Bormann Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
  • Ondřej Rokoš Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanics, Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
  • Ron H.J. Peerlings Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/APP.2020.26.0039

Keywords:

Lattice model, damage, finite element method, cohesive zone model, three-point-bending test, crack propagation

Abstract

Lattice models are often used to analyze materials with discrete micro-structures mainly due to their ability to accurately reflect behaviour of individual fibres or struts and capture macroscopic phenomena such as crack initiation, propagation, or branching. Due to the excessive number of discrete interactions, however, such models are often computationally expensive or even intractable for realistic problem dimensions. Simplifications therefore need to be adopted, which allow for efficient yet accurate modelling of engineering applications. For crack propagation modelling, the underlying discrete microstructure is typically replaced with an effective continuum, whereas the crack is inserted as an infinitely thin cohesive zone with a specific traction-separation law. In this work, the accuracy and efficiency of such an effective cohesive zone model is evaluated against the full lattice representation for an example of crack propagation in a three-point bending test. The variational formulation of both models is provided, and obtained results are compared for brittle and ductile behaviour of the underlying lattice in terms of force-displacement curves, crack opening diagrams, and crack length evolutions. The influence of the thickness of the process zone, which is present in the full lattice model but neglected in the effective cohesive zone model, is studied in detail.

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Published

2020-03-17

Issue

Vol. 26 (2020): NMM 2019 Nano & Macro Mechanics

Section

Articles

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