A convergent adaptive finite element method for a phase-field model of dynamic fracture

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Manohar, Ram, Mallikarjuaniah, S. M.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Manohar, Ram
Mallikarjuaniah, S. M.
author_facet Manohar, Ram
Mallikarjuaniah, S. M.
contents We propose and analyze an adaptive finite element method for a phase-field model of dynamic brittle fracture. The model couples a second-order hyperbolic equation for elastodynamics with the Ambrosio-Tortorelli regularization of the Francfort-Marigo variational fracture energy, which circumvents the need for explicit crack tracking. Our numerical scheme combines a staggered time-stepping algorithm with a variational inequality formulation to strictly enforce the irreversibility of damage. The mesh adaptation is driven by a residual-based a posteriori-type estimator, enabling efficient resolution of the evolving fracture process zone. The main theoretical contribution is a rigorous convergence analysis, where we prove that the sequence of discrete solutions generated by the AFEM converges (up to a tolerance) to a critical point of the governing energy functional. Numerical experiments for a two-dimensional domain containing an edge-crack under dynamic anti-plane shear loading demonstrate our method's capability of autonomously capturing complex phenomena, including crack branching and tortuosity, with significant computational savings over uniform refinement.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_05407
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A convergent adaptive finite element method for a phase-field model of dynamic fracture
Manohar, Ram
Mallikarjuaniah, S. M.
Numerical Analysis
We propose and analyze an adaptive finite element method for a phase-field model of dynamic brittle fracture. The model couples a second-order hyperbolic equation for elastodynamics with the Ambrosio-Tortorelli regularization of the Francfort-Marigo variational fracture energy, which circumvents the need for explicit crack tracking. Our numerical scheme combines a staggered time-stepping algorithm with a variational inequality formulation to strictly enforce the irreversibility of damage. The mesh adaptation is driven by a residual-based a posteriori-type estimator, enabling efficient resolution of the evolving fracture process zone. The main theoretical contribution is a rigorous convergence analysis, where we prove that the sequence of discrete solutions generated by the AFEM converges (up to a tolerance) to a critical point of the governing energy functional. Numerical experiments for a two-dimensional domain containing an edge-crack under dynamic anti-plane shear loading demonstrate our method's capability of autonomously capturing complex phenomena, including crack branching and tortuosity, with significant computational savings over uniform refinement.
title A convergent adaptive finite element method for a phase-field model of dynamic fracture
topic Numerical Analysis
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.05407