Lattice Approach in Continuum and Fracture Mechanics

Cracks Analysis in Zavin Concrete Dam Using Fracture Mechanics Approach

Most of the existing concrete dams are subjected to cracking. These cracks are caused by various factors such as construction practices, curing, loads and volume change of mass concrete which reduce the efficiency, failure or instability of concrete dams. Using fracture mechanics as a new method to estimate stability and durability of concrete dams is recommended in scientific publications in w...

Damage Assessment using an Inverse Fracture Mechanics approach

This paper studies the application of an inverse methodology for problem solving in fracture mechanics using the finite element analysis. The method was applied to both detection of subsurface cracks and the study of propagating cracks. The procedure for detection of subsurface cracks uses a first order optimization analysis coupled with a penalty function to solve for the unknown geometric par...

Breakdown of Continuum Fracture Mechanics at the Nanoscale

Materials fail by the nucleation and propagation of a crack, the critical condition of which is quantitatively described by fracture mechanics that uses an intensity of singular stress field characteristically formed near the crack-tip. However, the continuum assumption basing fracture mechanics obscures the prediction of failure of materials at the nanoscale due to discreteness of atoms. Here,...

‌Progressive Damage Analysis of Laminated Composites using Continuum Damage Mechanics

In this paper, progressive damage and global failure of composite laminates under quasi-static, monotonic loading are investigated using 3D continuum damage mechanics. For this purpose, a finite element program has been developed using an eight-node 2D layered element including layer-wise plate theory. Damage analysis of a single orthotropic layer under various uniform in-plane and transverse l...

A Hierarchical Approach to Fracture Mechanics