Phase-field modelling of diffuse fracture with FEM

Resumo

In damage models, cracks are considered in a smeared way, without any geometric representation
of the region where the crack takes place, and the energy released is used in crack growth that is controlled by
the energy fracture parameter. Phase-field models consider a diffuse and smooth crack that belongs to a certain
volume region, where a function describes the crack density. In that region each point has a field variable that
quantifies the material degradation. The phase-field techniques allows to detect crack paths and its bifurcation
without having a pre-existent crack. The purpose of this work is to present some phase-field models implemented
in the INSANE (Interactive Structural ANalysis Environment system) software, an structural analysis open-source
software developed by at the Structural Engineering department (DEES) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais
(UFMG). This work opens a new research line inside the INSANE Project. Some preliminary results will be
presented.