Numerical simulation of crack propagation from microcracking to fracture

Abstract

By numerical simulation, damage processes of quasi-brittle composites can be studied. The Bochum Method allows the calculation of all states of cracked material structure during the loading process from microcracking to fracture. Using this method a damage process of tensile loaded material was found which is not identical with assumptions used for determining the G F value of fracture energy. Separating energy in (micro)crack formation from (macro) crack propagation, the authors propose a procedure to evaluate the G F value from tensile or bending tests.