Mixed displacement-pressure-phase field framework for finite strain fracture of nearly incompressible hyperelastic materials

The favored phase field method (PFM) has encountered challenges in the finite strain fracture modeling of nearly or truly incompressible hyperelastic materials. We identified that the underlying cause lies in the innate contradiction between incompressibility and smeared crack opening. Drawing on the stiffness-degradation idea in PFM, we resolved this contradiction through loosening incompressible constraint of the damaged phase without affecting the incompressibility of intact material. By modifying the perturbed Lagrangian approach, we derived a novel mixed formulation. In numerical aspects, the finite element discretization uses the classical Q1/P0 and high-order P2/P1 schemes, respectively. To ease the mesh distortion at large strains, an adaptive mesh deletion technology is also developed. The validity and robustness of the proposed mixed framework are corroborated by four representative numerical examples. By comparing the performance of Q1/P0 and P2/P1, we conclude that the Q1/P0 formulation is a better choice for finite strain fracture in nearly incompressible cases. Moreover, the numerical examples also show that the combination of the proposed framework and methodology has vast potential in simulating complex peeling and tearing problems. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The favored phase field method (PFM) faces challenges in the finite strain fracture modeling of nearly or truly incompressible hyperelastic materials. The contradiction between incompressibility and smeared crack opening is resolved by loosening the incompressible constraint of the damaged phase while maintaining the incompressibility of intact material. A novel mixed formulation is derived and validated through numerical examples. The Q1/P0 formulation is found to be a better choice for finite strain fracture in nearly incompressible cases. The proposed framework and methodology show potential in simulating complex peeling and tearing problems.