Phase-field simulation of fracture in Polymethyl Methacrylate

Abstract

Significant interest and developments in phase-field fracture modeling have emerged. It approximates fracture continuously using a length-scale parameter, accurately simulating fracture initiation and crack propagation in brittle materials like Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) with nonlinear elasticity. This study proposes a phase-field approach for simulating PMMA fracture behavior using ABAQUS with a nonlinear elastic material model (UMAT) and a three-layered element composition (UEL). The staggered approach sequentially solves displacements and phase-field variables. Numerical results are validated against experiments considering various geometries, stress concentrators, and pre-cracks. The computational approach accurately predicts fracture initiation and crack growth in complex patterns and diverse loading conditions.