Strength-induced peridynamic modeling and simulation of fractures in brittle materials

This paper presents a hybrid peridynamics and classical continuum mechanics modeling approach for brittle fracture, in which peridynamics is activated according to a strength criterion. The proposed approach represents a new way of simulating the fracture process, including elastic deformation and crack nucleation and propagation. Classical continuum mechanics and peridynamics are coupled into a closed equation system, and an adaptive algorithm is developed to solve it. The algorithm initially employs classical continuum mechanics throughout the entire structure to describe its mechanical response. Once the stress state of a point reaches the strength of the material, peridynamics is adaptively activated in the vicinity of that point to further describe the crack nucleation and propagation processes. Two-dimensional numerical examples illustrate that successful fracture simulations of complex structure can be achieved by this approach.