A mixed phase-field fracture model for crack propagation in punctured EPDM strips

In this work, we present crack propagation experiments evaluated by digital image correlation (DIC) for a carbon black filled ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) and numerical modeling with the help of variational phase-field fracture. Our main focus is evolution cracks in one-sided notched EPDM strips containing circular hole. The are complemented investigations identifying mechanical material properties as well critical strain energy release rate. For simulating given notch, fracture popular approach. To avoid volume-locking effects considering fractures nearly incompressible materials, quasi-static model its classical formulation reformulated mixed form solid-displacement equation. newly established applied to simulate punctured using experimentally identified parameters finite elements. discuss agreements point out challenges differences, paths, maximal force response, traverse displacement at start, force–displacement curves experimental results compared.