Applications of Phase Field Methods in Modeling Fatigue Fracture and Performance Improvement Strategies: A Review

Fatigue fracture simulation based on phase field methods is a promising numerical approach. As a typical continuum approach, phase field methods can naturally simulate complex fatigue fracture behavior. Moreover, the cracking is a natural result of the simulation without additional fracture criterion. This study first introduced the phase field fracture principle, then reviewed some recent advances in phase field methods for fatigue fracture modeling, and gave representative examples in macroscale, microscale, and multiscale structural simulations. In addition, some strategies to improve the performance of phase field models were summarized from different perspectives. The applications of phase field methods to fatigue failure demonstrate the ability to handle complex fracture behaviors under multiple loading forms and their interactions, and the methods have great potential for development. Finally, an outlook was made in four aspects: loading form, fatigue degradation criterion, coupled crystal plasticity, and performance improvement.