Advanced Numerical Approaches to Simulate Crack Propagation Mechanisms in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Materials

A special issue of Inventions (ISSN 2411-5134). This special issue belongs to the section "Inventions and Innovation in Design, Modeling and Computing Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 November 2025) | Viewed by 430

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, Pegaso University, 80143 Napoli NA, Italy
Interests: Fracture Mechanics; Numerical simulation; Long span cable supported bridges

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A wide range of conventional and innovative materials used in various civil and mechanical engineering applications are susceptible to fracture. Fracture mechanisms can develop within a material even under standard loading conditions, leading to a reduction in both stiffness and strength. This, in turn, may result in sudden failure events occurring without any apparent warning signs.

A comprehensive understanding of the fracture behavior of materials is thus essential for preventing failures and ensuring safety.

In recent decades, numerical methods have become a primary investigative tool for analyzing the fracture behavior of materials. Recent advancements in numerical approaches have enabled the simulation of damage evolution within materials, facilitating the identification of key factors that govern the fracture process. Because of the incredible opportunity such methods provide, developing more reliable and computationally efficient numerical models is increasingly in demand.

Potential topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel numerical methods.
  • Advanced computational analyses.
  • Multiscale modeling.
  • Linear and nonlinear fracture models for the analysis of composite materials.
  • Intra- and inter-laminar failure analysis in composite plates and shells.
  • Interface models for mixed-mode crack propagation analysis.
  • Simulation of crack growth in heterogeneous materials by using mesh-based and meshless approaches.
  • Homogenization techniques for the analysis of damaged materials.
  • Interface modeling approaches for mixed-mode crack propagation analysis.

Dr. Arturo Pascuzzo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • crack path prediction
  • numerical approaches
  • mixed-mode fracture models
  • multiscale models
  • numerical methods
  • fracture mechanics
  • interface fracture
  • homogenization techniques

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 4808 KB  
Article
An Adaptive Concurrent Multiscale Approach Based on the Phase-Field Cohesive Zone Model for the Failure Analysis of Masonry Structures
by Fabrizio Greco, Francesco Fabbrocino, Lorenzo Leonetti, Arturo Pascuzzo and Girolamo Sgambitterra
Inventions 2025, 10(6), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10060111 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 238
Abstract
Simulating damage phenomena in masonry structures remains a significant challenge because of the intricate and heterogeneous nature of this material. An accurate evaluation of fracture behavior is essential for assessing the bearing capacity of these structures, thereby mitigating dramatic failures. This paper proposes [...] Read more.
Simulating damage phenomena in masonry structures remains a significant challenge because of the intricate and heterogeneous nature of this material. An accurate evaluation of fracture behavior is essential for assessing the bearing capacity of these structures, thereby mitigating dramatic failures. This paper proposes an innovative adaptive concurrent multiscale model for evaluating the bearing capacity of in-plane masonry structures under in-plane loadings. Developed within a Finite Element (FE) set, the proposed model employs a domain decomposition scheme to solve a combination of fine- and coarse-scale sub-models concurrently. In regions requiring less detail, the masonry is represented by homogeneous linear elastic macro-elements. The material properties for these macro-elements are derived through a first-order computational homogenization strategy. Conversely, in areas with higher resolution needs, the masonry is modeled by accurately depicting individual brick units and mortar joints. To capture strain localization effectively in these finer regions, a Phase Field Cohesive Zone Model (PF-CZM) formulation is employed as the fracture model. The adaptive nature derives from the fact that at the beginning of the analysis, the model is entirely composed of coarse regions. As nonlinear phenomena develop, these regions are progressively deactivated and replaced by finer regions. An activation criterion identifies damage-prone regions of the domain, thereby triggering the transition from macro to micro scales. The proposed model’s validity was assessed through multiscale numerical simulations applied to a targeted case study, with the results compared to those from a direct numerical simulation. The results confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of this innovative approach for analyzing masonry failure. Full article
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