Efficient coarse graining in multiscale modeling of fracture

We propose a coarse-graining technique to reduce a given atomistic model into an equivalent coarse grained continuum model. The developed technique is tailored for problems involving complex crack patterns in 2D and 3D including crack branching and coalescence. Atoms on the crack surface are separated from the atoms not on the crack surface by employing the centro symmetry parameter. A rectangular grid is superimposed on the atomistic model. Atoms on the crack surface in each cell are used to estimate the equivalent coarse-scale crack surface of that particular cell. The crack path in the coarse model is produced by joining the approximated crack paths in each cell. The developed technique serves as a sound basis to study the crack propagation in multiscale methods for fracture. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.