Open Access

ARTICLE

Particle Discontinuous Deformation Analysis of Static and Dynamic Crack Propagation in Brittle Material

Zediao Chen, Feng Liu^*

State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Intelligent Construction and Operation, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

* Corresponding Author: Feng Liu. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Computational Design and Modeling of Advanced Composites and Structures)

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2024, 139(2), 2215-2236. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.046618

Received 09 October 2023; Accepted 10 November 2023; Issue published 29 January 2024

Abstract

Crack propagation in brittle material is not only crucial for structural safety evaluation, but also has a wide-ranging impact on material design, damage assessment, resource extraction, and scientific research. A thorough investigation into the behavior of crack propagation contributes to a better understanding and control of the properties of brittle materials, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of both materials and structures. As an implicit discrete element method, the Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) has gained significant attention for its developments and applications in recent years. Among these developments, the particle DDA equipped with the bonded particle model is a powerful tool for predicting the whole process of material from continuity to failure. The primary objective of this research is to develop and utilize the particle DDA to model and understand the complex behavior of cracks in brittle materials under both static and dynamic loadings. The particle DDA is applied to several classical crack propagation problems, including the crack branching, compact tensile test, Kalthoff impact experiment, and tensile test of a rectangular plate with a hole. The evolutions of cracks under various stress or geometrical conditions are carefully investigated. The simulated results are compared with the experiments and other numerical results. It is found that the crack propagation patterns, including crack branching and the formation of secondary cracks, can be well reproduced. The results show that the particle DDA is a qualified method for crack propagation problems, providing valuable insights into the fracture mechanism of brittle materials.

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Keywords

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