Interface damage model for fatigue-driven fracture

Abstract

A fatigue interface damage model is presented that is based on combining a fatigue evolution law with a static interface damage model. The fatigue model elegantly enables the simulation of crack initiation and propagation in a computationally efficient and accurate way, accounting for mixed-mode loading conditions and fatigue loading of variable amplitude. The main features of the fatigue model are explained and demonstrated by means of an illustrative numerical example.