Numerical simulation of failure involving multiple cracks with smoothed displacements.

Abstract

To numerically simulate a failure process, damage models can be used. In order to avoid mesh dependency problems of local damage models, nonlocal models are employed. The use of nonlocal displacements is an efficient computational technique that allows to obtain physically realistic results. The goal of this research project is the numerical modelling of failure processes by means of this nonlocal technique. Special emphasis will be placed on numerical tests that deal with multiple cracks.