Viscoelastic phase-field fracture using the framework of representative crack elements

Abstract The promising phase-field method has been intensively studied for crack approximation in brittle materials. realistic representation of material degradation at a fully evolved is still one the main challenges. Several energy split formulations have postulated to describe evolution physically. A recent approach based on concept representative elements (RCE) Storm et al. (The fracture: anisotropic elasticity and thermo-elasticity. Int J Numer Methods Eng 121:779–805, 2020) introduces variational framework derive kinematically consistent degradation. further tested using self-consistency condition, which particularly compared discrete model. This work extends RCE modeling towards rate-dependent fracture viscoelastic continuum. novelty this paper taking internal variables due viscoelasticity into account determine deformation state. Meanwhile, transient extension from also considered. model derived thermodynamic-consistently implemented FE framework. numerical examples are investigated, consequently, according findings potential perspectives discussed close paper.