A Phase-Field Fracture Model for Brittle Anisotropic Materials

Anisotropy is inherent in many materials, either because of the manufacturing process, or due to their microstructure, and can markedly influence failure behavior. Anisotropic materials obviously possess both anisotropic elasticity fracture surface energy. Phase-field methods are elegant mathematically well-grounded, have become popular for simulating isotropic brittle fracture. Here, we developed a variational phase-field model strongly fracture, which accounts anisotropy elastic strain energy energy, asymmetric behavior cracks traction compression. We implement numerically our higher-order with mixed finite element, inspired by formulations plate/shell elements, where similar continuity requirements exist. For as reported recent experiments, one could obtain several crack propagation directions given loading configuration, depending on imperfections initial crack. From an point view, selection direction dictated local principle generalized maximum release rate. Herein, first time examine this principle, reproduce behaviors observed experiments. Numerical simulations exhibit all features