This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. Geelen, R., Liu, Y., Dolbow, J., Rodriguez-Ferran, A. An optimization-based phase-field method for continuous-discontinuous crack propagation. "International journal for numerical methods in engineering", 5 Octubre 2018, vol. 116, núm. 1, p. 1-20, which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/nme.5911.

A new continuous-discontinuous strategy for the computational modeling of crack propagation within the context of phase-field models of fracture is presented. The method is designed to introduce and update a sharp crack surface within an evolving damage band, and to enhance the kinematics of the finite element approximation accordingly. The proposed approach relies on three key elements. First, we propose the use of a crack length functional to provide a trigger for initiating a continuous to discontinuous transition. Next, the crack path identification is addressed by introducing the concept of an auxiliary damage field that varies with an extension of the sharp crack surface. The sharp crack surface is extended through an optimization algorithm, in which the difference between the auxiliary field and the actual damage field stemming from the phase-field framework is minimized. Finally, a strong discontinuity is inserted in the wake of the diffuse crack tip with the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM), completing the continuous to discontinuous transition. Several benchmark problems in two-dimensional quasi-static fracture mechanics are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the method.

Peer Reviewed