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A mixed-mode E-FEM approach for the study of local fracture processes in heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials

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Abstract

This paper studies the use of the Embedded Finite Element Method (E-FEM) for the numerical modelling of triaxial fracture processes in non-homogeneous quasi-brittle materials. The E-FEM framework used in this study combines two kinematics enhancements: a weak discontinuity allowing the model to account for material heterogeneities and a strong discontinuity allowing the model to represent local fractures. The strong discontinuity features enriched fracture kinematics that allow the modelling of all typical fracture modes in three dimensions. A brief review is done of past work using similar enriched finite element frameworks to approach this problem. The work continues by establishing the theoretical basis of each kind of discontinuity formulation and their superposition through the Hu-Washizu variational principle. Three groups of numerical simulations are presented afterwards for discussing the performance of this combined E-FEM model: homogeneous sample simulations, simple heterogeneous sample simulations and simulations considering a realistic heterogeneous morphology coming from an actual concrete sample. Comparisons are made with another E-FEM model considering a single local fracture mode approach and with previous experimental data. A concluding statement is made on the benefits and challenges identified for the E-FEM framework in this kind of applications.

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  1. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, F-38000, Grenoble, France

    A. Ortega, E. Roubin, Y. Malecot & L. Daudeville

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  1. A. Ortega
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  2. E. Roubin
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Ortega, A., Roubin, E., Malecot, Y. et al. A mixed-mode E-FEM approach for the study of local fracture processes in heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials. Mater Struct 55, 222 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-022-02055-y

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