Cohesive zone model and GTN model collation for ductile crack growth

The micromechanical modelling encounters a problem that is different from basic assumptions of continuum mechanics. The material is not uniform on the microscale level and the material within an element has its own complex microstructure. Therefore the concept of a representative volume element (RVE) has been introduced. The general advantage, compared to conventional fracture mechanics, is that, in principle, the parameters of the respective models depend only on the material and not on the geometry. These concepts guarantee transferability from specimen to components over a wide range of dimensions and geometries. The prediction of crack propagation through interface elements based on the fracture mechanics approach (damage) and cohesive zone model is presented. The cohesive model for crack propagation analysis is incorporated into finite element package by interface elements which separations are controlled by the traction-separation law.