On Three Dimensional Curved Crack Propagation Based on Configurational Forces

Abstract

A numerical scheme is presented to predict crack trajectories in three dimensional components. First a relation between the curvature in mixed-mode crack propagation and the corresponding configurational forces based on the principle of maximum dissipation is reviewed. With the help of this, a numerical scheme is presented which is based on a predictor-corrector method using the configurational forces acting on the crack together with their derivatives along real and test paths. It is outlined how to extend th…