Abstract
The phase field method is a versatile simulation framework for studying initiation and propagation of complex crack networks without dependence to the finite element mesh. In this paper, we discuss the influence of parameters in the method and provide experimental validations of crack initiation and propagation in plaster specimens. More specifically, we show by theoretical and experimental analyses that the regularization length should be interpreted as a material parameter, and identified experimentally as it. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons between numerical predictions and experimental data are provided. We show that the phase field method can predict accurately crack initiation and propagation in plaster specimens in compression with respect to experiments, when the material parameters, including the characteristic length are identified by other simple experimental tests.
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Acknowledgments
This work has benefited from a French government grant managed by ANR within the frame of the national program Investments for the Future ANR-11-LABX-022-01. The financial support of J. Yvonnet from IUF (Institut Universitaire de France) is gratefully acknowledged. We thank the support from the Federeation Francilienne de Mecanique to conduct the experimental program.
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Nguyen, T.T., Yvonnet, J., Bornert, M. et al. On the choice of parameters in the phase field method for simulating crack initiation with experimental validation. Int J Fract 197, 213–226 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-016-0082-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-016-0082-1