Comparison of Multiresolution Continuum Theory and Nonlocal Damage Model for Use in Simulation of Manufacturing Processes

Modelling and simulation of manufacturing processes may require the capability to account for localization behavior, often associated with damage/fracture. It may be unwanted localization indicating a failure in the process or, as in the case of machining and cutting, a wanted phenomenon to be controlled. The latter requires a higher accuracy regarding the modelling of the underlying physics, as well as the robustness of the simulation procedure. Two different approaches for achieving mesh-independent solutions are compared in this paper. They are the multiresolution continuum theory (MRCT) and nonlocal damage model. The MRCT theory is a general multilength-scale finite element formulation, while the nonlocal damage model is a specialized method using a weighted averaging of softening internal variables over a spatial neighborhood of the material point. Both approaches result in a converged finite element solution of the localization problem upon mesh refinement. This study compares the accuracy and robustness of their numerical schemes in implicit finite element codes for the plane strain shear deformation test case. Final remarks concerning ease of implementation of the methods in commercial finite element packages are also given.