Computational Fracture Mechanics

The last few years have experienced a resurgence of activity in the formulation of fracture mechanics models, particularly to place them within a sound mathematical framework, as well as to address open questions related to crack nucleation and evolution, especially in coupled materials and three-dimensions. New classes of models have appeared, such as smeared crack models, Peridynamics, and the variational theory of brittle fracture. Computational fracture mechanics refers to the creation of numerical methods to approximate the crack evolutions predicted by these models.

The goal of this minisymposium is to bring together researchers working on the formulation and/or numerical analysis of methods in computational fracture mechanics, including but not limited to the following strategies:

• Strong Discontinuity Method

• Extended Finite Element Method

• R-adaptive methods, such as those based on Configurational Forces or Universal Meshes

• Meshfree methods, such as the Material Point Method, or methods based on Peridynamics

• Phase-field models in brittle fracture

• Discontinuous Galerkin and Polytopal Finite Element Methods

• Methods for Cohesive Fracture Models, including those based on cohesive elements

• Models for crack nucleation and evolution in materials with electric, magnetic, or chemical coupling