Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.

Brittle Fracture of a Holed Plate

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.1.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
This example studies the brittle fracture of a holed plate made of a cement mortar. The set
up of the model, including dimensions and material properties, is based on the
experimental data reported in Ref. 1. As the plate is loaded, a mixed-mode fracture is
induced with a crack propagating from the predefined notch to the unsymmetrically placed
hole in the center of the plate.

Fracture is modeled using a damage model that regularizes the sharp geometry of the crack
by the phase field approximation. This means that the crack is described in the domain
material, so the non local phase field makes the crack path independent of the mesh
elements. The example shows how to define an efficient and stable solver configuration for
the phase field damage method, which is often unstable for this class of problems.

Model Definition
The geometry of the specimen (Ref. 1) is shown in Figure 1. The overall dimensions of
the plate equal to 65 mm in width and 120 mm in height. The thickness of the plate is
constant and equal to 1 mm. A notch is placed on the left boundary, 65 mm from the
bottom of the plate, in order to control where the crack initiates during loading. A mixed-
mode fracture is induced by offsetting the large hole and the notch from the center of the
plate. Loading is applied through displacement controlled metal pins inserted into the two
smaller holes. The model assumes a plane stress condition.

Figure 1: Geometry of the holed plate model.

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The plate is made of a cement mortar composed of 22% cement, 66% sand with a grain
size smaller than 1 mm, and 12% water. Material properties (from Ref. 1) are given in
Table 1. In order to account for tensile cracking, the mortar is described as a linear elastic
material model with damage. A phase field approximation is made after the sharp crack
geometry, and cracking is incorporated in to the domain material. The set up of the phase
field damage model does not include a damage threshold, meaning that all material points
subjected to tension are damaged. The only material input to the damage model is the
critical energy release rate Gc (sometimes called fracture energy), whereas the tensile
strength is determined by the damage evolution function and the evolution of the phase
field. The latter can be modified by the internal length scale lint that controls the width
of the localized phase field. In this example, the parameter lint is set to 0.25 mm.
TABLE 1: MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF THE CEMENT MORTAR.

MATERIAL PROPERTY VALUE

Young’s modulus 6 GPa

Poisson’s ratio 0.22
Critical energy release rate 2280 J/m2

To properly resolve the phase field and to achieve a stable material behavior, a high mesh
density is required in the vicinity of the propagating crack. Since the expected crack
trajectory is known in advance, the mesh is locally refined with a maximum mesh element
size equal to lint. This length can be considered as being close to the upper limit of the
appropriate mesh size. If extra computational cost is acceptable, a finer mesh size would
resolve the phase field better and also yield a more stable material behavior.

The two metal pins in the model are represented by two rigid connectors attached to the
boundaries of the two smaller holes. Loading is applied by prescribed displacements to the
two rigid connectors while they are free to rotate. No other loads nor constraints are
considered.

Results and Discussion

Figure 2 shows the reaction force in the upper rigid connector versus its prescribed
displacement. A first peak in the curve can be identified at a load of 0.63 kN and a lateral
displacement of 0.33 mm. As shown in Figure 3, this peak corresponds to the formation
of a crack a the tip of the notch. Actually, the crack starts propagating slightly before the
observed peak, see the first green circle in Figure 2 and leftmost plot in Figure 3. Once in
the post-peak regime of the curve, the crack propagates rapidly and the load capacity of
the plate reduces significantly. As the crack approaches the large hole, its diverts from the
initially straight path; and a new stable configuration is obtained once it reaches the hole.

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At this point the load can be increased, but with a much lower stiffness than prior to the
formation of the crack.

A second peak is reached at a load of 0.15 kN and 1.7 mm displacement. A second crack
propagates toward the right boundary of the plate, and it would eventually split the
specimen in two pieces. However, due to local compressive stress fields and residual
stiffness in the damaged mesh elements in the model, the crack propagation is slowed
down before reaching the exterior boundary. By increasing the prescribed displacement of
the rigid connector; the crack would eventually reach the exterior also in the simulation
when the bending action of the plate changes to pure tensile loading.

The distribution of the phase field at the last step of the simulation is shown in Figure 4.
The phase field has a smooth variation, which indicates that the mesh resolution is
sufficiently fine. For the second crack, the phase field is slightly wider close the hole, since
there it localized without the aid of a geometric notch. Localization of strains is an
unstable event, which explains the small bleeding of the phase field observed in the second
crack.

Figure 2: Load versus displacement curve with green circles indicating the snapshots presented
in Figure 3.

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Figure 3: Crack trajectory and maximum principal stress field for different parameter steps.
The red arrows indicate the relative size of the reaction force in the rigid connectors.

Figure 4: Crack phase field at the last parameter step.

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Notes About the COMSOL Implementation
The loading of the specimen is done by adding a Prescribed Displacement node to each Rigid
Connector. In this way the loading is displacement-controlled, which is necessary to track
the peak loads in the global response. The simulation would have stopped before reaching
the first peak if used a load-controlled set up.

While it is possible to solve this type of brittle fracture problem using a fully coupled
strategy, the phase field damage model can often exhibit poor or slow convergence. In this
example it is therefore shown how to use a segregated strategy to improve the convergence
and stability of the numerical solution by splitting the evolution of the crack phase field
and the displacement field into two groups. This type of algorithmic operator split for
phase field fracture models was originally suggested in Ref. 2, and it can conceptually be
summarized as follows for step n + 1:

1 Initialization. At step n, the crack phase field, the displacement field, and other state
variables are known.
2 Update state variables. Update internal state variables with the values from step n.
3 Solve for the Crack Phase Field. Compute the crack phase field variable in a Newton
step, with the displacement field frozen at step n.
4 Solve for the Displacement field. Compute the displacement field variable in a Newton
step with the updated crack phase field.

These steps lead to a single-pass algorithm which corresponds to the default solver
sequence that is, however, accurate only for sufficiently small parameter steps. An
improvement to this scheme is to add a multi-pass correction, by iterating in each
increment over steps 3 and 4 until either convergence is achieved or for a predefined
number of iterations. Such a strategy is used in this example by setting the Number of
iteration to 3 in the Segregated subnode under the Stationary Solver.

Notice that the suggested solver configuration does not require convergence of the outer
problem, and the solution is always accepted after 3 segregated iterations. However, each
sub group locally fulfills the defined convergence criteria. Hence, the displacement field
can be considered as a converged solution given the current crack phase field.

The accuracy of the scheme can be improved if the extra computational cost of increasing
the number of iterations (or the required convergence of the outer problem) is acceptable.

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References
1. M. Ambati, T. Gerasimov, and L. De Lorenzis, “A review on phase-field models of
brittle fracture and a new fast hybrid formulation,” Comput. Mech., vol. 55, pp. 383–405,
2015.

2. C. Miehe, M. Hofhacker, and F. Welschinger, “A phase field model for rate-

independent crack propagation: Robust algorithmic implementation based on operator
splits,” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., vol. 199, pp. 2765–2778, 2010.

Application Library path: Geomechanics_Module/Damage/holed_plate_fracture

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Solid Mechanics (solid).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
6 Click Done.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.

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3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

height 120[mm] 0.12 m Plate height
width 65[mm] 0.065 m Plate width
notchHeight 0.5[mm] 5E-4 m Notch height
notchWidth 10[mm] 0.01 m Notch width
notchLocation 65[mm] 0.065 m Notch location
holeRadius 10[mm] 0.01 m Hole radius
holeX 36.5[mm] 0.0365 m Hole center, x-coordinate
holeY 51[mm] 0.051 m Hole center, y-coordinate
elemSize 0.25[mm] 2.5E-4 m Mesh element size
para 0 0 Load parameter

GEOMETRY 1

Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type width.
4 In the Height text field, type height.

Circle 1 (c1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type holeRadius.
4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type holeX.
5 In the y text field, type holeY.

Circle 2 (c2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type 5[mm].
4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type 20[mm].
5 In the y text field, type 20[mm].

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Circle 3 (c3)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type 5[mm].
4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type 20[mm].
5 In the y text field, type height-20[mm].

Rectangle 2 (r2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type notchWidth.
4 In the Height text field, type notchHeight.
5 Locate the Position section. In the y text field, type notchLocation-notchHeight/2.

Difference 1 (dif1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Difference.
2 Drag and drop below Rectangle 2 (r2).
3 Select the object r1 only.
4 In the Settings window for Difference, locate the Difference section.
5 Find the Objects to subtract subsection. Click to select the Activate Selection toggle
button.
6 Select the objects c1, c2, c3, and r2 only.

Partition the plate to facilitate an increased mesh density around the expected crack path.

Line Segment 1 (ls1)

1 In the Geometry toolbar, click More Primitives and choose Line Segment.
2 In the Settings window for Line Segment, locate the Starting Point section.
3 From the Specify list, choose Coordinates.
4 In the x text field, type width.
5 In the y text field, type holeY+elemSize*12.
6 Locate the Endpoint section. From the Specify list, choose Coordinates.
7 In the x text field, type holeX.
8 In the y text field, type holeY+elemSize*5.

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Line Segment 2 (ls2)
1 Right-click Line Segment 1 (ls1) and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Line Segment, locate the Starting Point section.
3 In the y text field, type holeY-elemSize*12.
4 Locate the Endpoint section. In the y text field, type holeY-elemSize*5.

Polygon 1 (pol1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Polygon.
2 In the Settings window for Polygon, locate the Object Type section.
3 From the Type list, choose Open curve.
4 Locate the Coordinates section. In the table, enter the following settings:

x (m) y (m)
holeX holeY
holeX notchLocation+elemSize*12
notchWidth*3/4 notchLocation+elemSize*12
notchWidth*3/4 notchLocation+notchHeight/2

Polygon 2 (pol2)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Polygon.
2 In the Settings window for Polygon, locate the Object Type section.
3 From the Type list, choose Open curve.
4 Locate the Coordinates section. In the table, enter the following settings:

x (m) y (m)
notchWidth*3/4 notchLocation-notchHeight/2
notchWidth*3/4 notchLocation-elemSize*5
holeX+holeRadius holeY

Union 1 (uni1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans and Partitions and choose Union.
2 Click the Select All button in the Graphics toolbar.

Delete Entities 1 (del1)

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Delete Entities.
2 On the object uni1, select Boundaries 14–20, 22, and 23 only.

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Mesh Control Domains 1 (mcd1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Virtual Operations and choose Mesh Control Domains.
2 On the object fin, select Domains 3 and 4 only.
3 In the Geometry toolbar, click Build All.
4 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

SOLID MECHANICS (SOLID)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Solid Mechanics (solid).
2 In the Settings window for Solid Mechanics, locate the 2D Approximation section.
3 From the list, choose Plane stress.
4 Locate the Thickness section. In the d text field, type 1[mm].

Linear Elastic Material 1

In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics (solid) click
Linear Elastic Material 1.

Damage 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Damage.
2 In the Settings window for Damage, locate the Damage section.
3 From the Damage model list, choose Phase field damage.
4 In the lint text field, type 0.25[mm].

Rigid Connector 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Rigid Connector.
2 Select Boundaries 9, 10, 13, and 14 only.
3 In the Settings window for Rigid Connector, locate the
Prescribed Displacement at Center of Rotation section.
4 Select the Prescribed in x direction check box.
5 Select the Prescribed in y direction check box.
6 Click to expand the Reaction Force Settings section. Select the Evaluate reaction forces
check box.

Rigid Connector 2
1 Right-click Rigid Connector 1 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Rigid Connector, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.

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4 Select Boundaries 11, 12, 15, and 16 only.
5 Locate the Prescribed Displacement at Center of Rotation section. In the u0y text field,
type para*2[mm].

MATERIALS

Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Young’s modulus E 6[GPa] Pa Young’s modulus
and Poisson’s ratio
Poisson’s ratio nu 0.22 1 Young’s modulus
and Poisson’s ratio
Density rho 2000 kg/m³ Basic
Critical energy Gc 2280[J/m^2] J/m² Phase field damage
release rate

MESH 1

Free Quad 1
In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Quad.

Size 1
1 Right-click Free Quad 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 2 and 4 only.
5 Click to expand the Element Size Parameters section. Locate the Element Size section.
Click the Custom button.
6 Locate the Element Size Parameters section.
7 Select the Maximum element size check box. In the associated text field, type elemSize.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 click Size.

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2 In the Settings window for Size, click to expand the Element Size Parameters section.
3 In the Maximum element size text field, type 0.0075.
4 In the Maximum element growth rate text field, type 2.
5 Click Build All.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, click to expand the Study Extensions section.
3 Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.
4 Click Add.
5 In the table, enter the following settings:

Parameter name Parameter value list Parameter unit

para (Load parameter) range(0,0.01,1)

Solution 1 (sol1)
1 In the Study toolbar, click Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solution 1 (sol1) node.
Use a small parameter step to improve the accuracy and stability of the model.
3 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1>Solver Configurations>
Solution 1 (sol1)>Stationary Solver 1 node, then click Parametric 1.
4 In the Settings window for Parametric, click to expand the Continuation section.
5 Select the Tuning of step size check box.
6 In the Maximum step size text field, type 0.0025.
7 In the Initial step size text field, type 0.0025.
Allowing more outer iterations improves the accuracy of the phase field, but comes at
an additional computational cost.
8 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solution 1 (sol1)>
Stationary Solver 1 click Segregated 1.
9 In the Settings window for Segregated, locate the General section.
10 In the Number of iterations text field, type 3.
Generate datasets and default plots.
11 In the Study toolbar, click Get Initial Value.

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RESULTS

Stress (solid)
1 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Plot Settings section.
2 Clear the Plot dataset edges check box.

Surface 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Stress (solid) node, then click Surface 1.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type solid.sdp1Gp.
4 From the Unit list, choose MPa.

Deformation
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Surface 1 node, then click Deformation.
2 In the Settings window for Deformation, locate the Scale section.
3 Select the Scale factor check box. In the associated text field, type 1.

Line 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Stress (solid) and choose Line.
2 In the Settings window for Line, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type 1.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Coloring list, choose Uniform.
5 From the Color list, choose Black.
6 Click to expand the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Surface 1.
7 Clear the Color check box.
8 Clear the Color and data range check box.

Deformation 1
Right-click Line 1 and choose Deformation.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Settings window for Stationary, click to expand the Results While Solving section.
2 Select the Plot check box.
3 From the Update at list, choose Steps taken by solver.
4 In the Study toolbar, click Compute.

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RESULTS

Crack Phase Field

1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Crack Phase Field in the Label text
field.
3 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Label.
4 Locate the Plot Settings section. Clear the Plot dataset edges check box.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Crack Phase Field and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type solid.phic.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Click Change Color Table.
5 In the Color Table dialog box, select Rainbow>RainbowLight in the tree.
6 Click OK.

Crack Trajectory
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Crack Trajectory in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Label.
4 Locate the Plot Settings section. Clear the Plot dataset edges check box.
5 Locate the Color Legend section. Select the Show units check box.

Surface 1
1 Right-click Crack Trajectory and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type 1.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Coloring list, choose Uniform.
5 From the Color list, choose Gray.

Deformation 1
1 Right-click Surface 1 and choose Deformation.
2 In the Settings window for Deformation, locate the Scale section.
3 Select the Scale factor check box. In the associated text field, type 1.

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Filter 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Surface 1 and choose Filter.
2 In the Settings window for Filter, locate the Element Selection section.
3 In the Logical expression for inclusion text field, type solid.phic<0.6.

Line 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Crack Trajectory and choose Line.
2 In the Settings window for Line, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type 1.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Coloring list, choose Uniform.
5 From the Color list, choose Black.
6 Click to expand the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Surface 1.
7 Clear the Color check box.
8 Clear the Color and data range check box.

Deformation 1
Right-click Line 1 and choose Deformation.

Filter 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Line 1 and choose Filter.
2 In the Settings window for Filter, locate the Element Selection section.
3 In the Logical expression for inclusion text field, type solid.phic<0.6.

Contour 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Crack Trajectory and choose Contour.
2 In the Settings window for Contour, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type solid.sdp1Gp.
4 From the Unit list, choose MPa.
5 Locate the Levels section. From the Entry method list, choose Levels.
6 In the Levels text field, type range(30,10,80).
7 Click to expand the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Surface 1.
8 Clear the Color check box.
9 Clear the Color and data range check box.

Deformation 1
Right-click Contour 1 and choose Deformation.

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Filter 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Contour 1 and choose Filter.
2 In the Settings window for Filter, locate the Element Selection section.
3 In the Logical expression for inclusion text field, type solid.phic<0.9.
4 From the Element nodes to fulfill expression list, choose All.

Crack Trajectory
In the Model Builder window, under Results click Crack Trajectory.

Point Trajectories 1
1 In the Crack Trajectory toolbar, click More Plots and choose Point Trajectories.
2 In the Settings window for Point Trajectories, click Replace Expression in the upper-right
corner of the Trajectory Data section. From the menu, choose Component 1 (comp1)>
Solid Mechanics>Rigid connectors>Rigid Connector 1>solid.xcx_rig1,solid.xcy_rig1 -
Global coordinates of center of rotation (spatial frame).
3 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line style subsection. From the Type list,
choose None.
4 Find the Point style subsection. From the Type list, choose Arrow.
5 Click the button. From the menu, choose Component 1 (comp1)>Solid Mechanics>
Rigid connectors>Rigid Connector 1>solid.rig1.RFx,solid.rig1.RFy -
Reaction force (spatial frame).
6 Select the Scale factor check box. In the associated text field, type 4E-5.
7 Click to expand the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Surface 1.

Deformation 1
1 Right-click Point Trajectories 1 and choose Deformation.
2 In the Settings window for Deformation, locate the Expression section.
3 In the X-component text field, type solid.rig1.u.
4 In the Y-component text field, type solid.rig1.v.

Point Trajectories 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Crack Trajectory right-click
Point Trajectories 1 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Point Trajectories, locate the Trajectory Data section.
3 In the X-expression text field, type solid.xcx_rig2.
4 In the Y-expression text field, type solid.xcy_rig2.

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5 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Find the Point style subsection. In the Arrow, X-
component text field, type solid.rig2.RFx.
6 In the Arrow, Y-component text field, type solid.rig2.RFy.
7 Locate the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Point Trajectories 1.

Deformation 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Point Trajectories 2 node, then click
Deformation 1.
2 In the Settings window for Deformation, locate the Expression section.
3 In the X-component text field, type solid.rig2.u.
4 In the Y-component text field, type solid.rig2.v.
5 In the Crack Trajectory toolbar, click Plot.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

Animation 1
1 In the Crack Trajectory toolbar, click Animation and choose Player.
2 In the Settings window for Animation, locate the Frames section.
3 From the Frame selection list, choose All.
4 Click the Play button in the Graphics toolbar.

Load vs. Displacement

1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Load vs in the Label text field.
3 In the Label text field, type Load vs. Displacement.
4 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose Label.
5 Locate the Plot Settings section.
6 Select the x-axis label check box. In the associated text field, type Displacement (mm).
7 Select the y-axis label check box. In the associated text field, type Load (kN).

Global 1
1 Right-click Load vs. Displacement and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

solid.rig2.RFy N Reaction force, y-component

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4 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
5 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

solid.rig2.RFy kN Reaction force, y-component

6 Locate the x-Axis Data section. In the Expression text field, type solid.rig2.v.
7 From the Unit list, choose mm.
8 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. From the Width list, choose 2.
9 Click to expand the Legends section. Clear the Show legends check box.

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