Abstract:
Dynamic fracture phenomena are studied employing low cost computational tools
based on Finite Elements with Embedded strong discontinuities (E-FEM). Fracture nucleation
and propagation are accounted for through the injection of discontinuous strain and displace-
ment modes inside the finite elements. The Crack Path Field technique is employed to compute
the trace of the strong discontinuity during fracture propagation.
Unstable crack propagation and crack branching are observed upon increasing loading
rates. The variation in terms of crack pattern and energy dissipation is studied and a good cor-
relation is found between the maximum experimental crack speed and maximum dissipation at
the onset of branching. Comparable results are obtained against simulations employing supra-
elemental techniques, such as phase-field and gradient damage models, considering coarser
discretizations which can differ by two orders of magnitude.
