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A level set based model for damage growth: The thick level set approach
Author(s) -
Moës N.,
Stolz C.,
Bernard P.E.,
Chevaugeon N.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.3069
Subject(s) - level set (data structures) , set (abstract data type) , function (biology) , level set method , computer science , structural engineering , algorithm , mathematics , engineering , artificial intelligence , segmentation , evolutionary biology , image segmentation , biology , programming language
In this paper, we introduce a new way to model damage growth in solids. A level set is used to separate the undamaged zone from the damaged zone. In the damaged zone, the damage variable is an explicit function of the level set. This function is a parameter of the model. Beyond a critical length, we assume the material to be totally damaged, thus allowing a straightforward transition to fracture. The damage growth is expressed as a level set propagation. The configurational force driving the damage front is non‐local in the sense that it averages information over the thickness in the wake of the front. The computational and theoretical advantages of the new damage model are stressed. Numerical examples demonstrate the capability of the new model to initiate cracks and propagate them even in complex topological patterns (branching and merging for instance). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.