Modeling Crack Propagation in Polycrystalline Microstructure Using Variational Multiscale Method

Figure 5

Aspects of the numerical implementation. (a) The crack path search method employed involves searching over a finite distance ahead of the crack tip for the angle along which the average tensile stress is the largest. In the implementation, the search is done across several elements ahead of the crack tip in the same direction but from start points at the center of the element edge. (b) After the crack is formed in an elastoplastic element, the unloading is assumed to be elastic following the initial elastic modulus.

(a)

(b)