A Dynamic Atomistic-Continuum Method for the Simulation of Crystalline Materials

Abstract

We present a coupled atomistic-continuum method for the modeling of defects and interface dynamics of crystalline materials. The method uses atomistic models such as molecular dynamics near defects and interfaces, and continuum models away from defects and interfaces. We propose a new class of matching conditions between the atomistic and continuum regions. These conditions ensure the accurate passage of large scale information between the atomistic and continuum regions and at the same time minimize the reflection of phonons at the atomistic-continuum interface. They can be made adaptive if we choose appropriate weight functions. We present applications to dislocation dynamics, friction between two-dimensional crystal surfaces and fracture dynamics. We compare results of the coupled method and the detailed atomistic model.