$\xi$-Based adaptive phase field model for quasi-static anti-plane fracture

Abstract

The $\xi$-based spatially adaptive three-field variable phase-field model for quasi-static anti-plane crack propagation is introduced. A dynamically optimized regularization length is integrated to improve computational efficiency and accuracy in numerical approximations. A local adaptive mesh refinement strategy is developed, which maintains an optimal balance between mesh resolution and the accurate depiction of fractures using the \textsf{AT1} diffuse interface model. The total energy functional is comprised of three components: strain energy, surface energy, and a third term reliant on the damage zone's regularization length. The governing partial differential equations for mechanics and phase-field variables, derived from Euler-Lagrange, are discretized via the finite-element method. Two parameters functioning as penalty variables are incorporated; both are asymptotically estimated from the gradient of the phase-field variable. By these estimated parameters, mesh adaptivity is enhanced, ensuring the convergence of the numerical solution. Standard phase-field methods are shown by numerical results to be surpassed by the adaptive model; an accurate representation of fractures is provided, and computational costs are significantly lowered. By employing the proposed spatially adaptive approach, a vastly larger regularization length parameter is achieved compared to other methods throughout the entire computation.