Fracture of soft materials with interfaces: Phase field modeling based on hybrid ES-FEM/FEM. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shuyu; Zeng, Jun; Zhang, Mengnan; Ji, Jiale; Li, Liangbin; Tian, Fucheng
• Is Part Of: Engineering fracture mechanics. Volume 276:Part B(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Hyperelastic materials -- Interface fracture -- Phase field model -- Edge-based smoothed finite element -- Large deformation; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Periodicals; 620.112605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2022.108892
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-7944

Abstract

Highlights: Investigate the interface crack problem in soft materials using the phase-field fracture model. A hybrid ES-FEM and FEM scheme is proposed to address large deformation fractures. A phase diagram for predicting the interfacial fracture behavior of soft materials was constructed. Crack tip stress decomposition furnishes a potential explanation for the competing mechanism of penetration vs deflection at the weak interface. Abstract: Interface fracture has stimulated intense research interest due to its practical application context. In this paper, we present a numerical study of large-strain fracture in soft materials with interfaces using the sought-after phase-field method (PFM). Numerical treatment relies on the proposed hybrid ES-FEM/FEM strategy, which alleviates mesh distortion for large deformations while considering computational efficiency. This hybrid scheme incorporates the advantages of ES-FEM and FEM and excels in large-strain fracture of soft materials. By analogy to the interface fracture in the linear elastic regime, we systematically study the fracture behavior of the soft materials with interface in terms of interface strength, tilt angle, and interface position. Three different crack morphologies: (i) direct penetration; (ii) penetration with deflection; (iii) deflection without penetration, were identified, bearing a close resemblance to the experimental photographs. On this basis, a brand-new phase diagram of crack behavior was drawn in the parameter space of interface strength versus tilt angle. Besides, from the perspective of stress analysis, we furnished a potential explanation for the competing mechanism of penetration vs deflection concerning the crack impinging on an interface.