Dynamic phase-field fracture with a first-order discontinuous Galerkin method for elastic waves

Abstract

We present a new numerical approach for wave induced dynamic fracture. The method is based on a discontinuous Galerkin approximation of the first-order hyperbolic system for elastic waves and a phase-field approximation of brittle fracture driven by the maximum tension. The algorithm is staggered in time and combines an implicit midpoint rule for the wave propagation followed by an implicit Euler step for the phase-field evolution. At fracture, the material is degraded, and the waves are reflected at the diffusive interfaces. Two and three-dimensional examples demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method for the computation of crack growth and spalling initiated by reflected and superposed waves.