Computational aspects of bond-based configurational peridynamics in two-dimensional elasticity

Abstract

Fracture mechanics is essential for predicting the behavior of cracks in materials, traditionally focusing on stress and strain fields around crack tips. Peridynamics, a non-local formulation introduced by Silling in 2000, models material interactions over a defined horizon, suitable for problems involving discontinuities such as cracks. This thesis explores the integration of the energy release rate, J-integral, and configurational forces within the context of configu- rational peridynamics. The J-integral, which quantifies the driving force for crack growth, is examined through various computational methods, including line integral and configurational peridynamics. Configurational mechanics, focusing on internal forces responsible for material restructuring, is integrated into the peridynamic framework to enhance the understanding of crack propagation. Key contributions of this thesis include the optimization and parallelization of peridynamic simulations, and the validation of the proposed peridynamic model through numerical studies. These studies mainly demonstrate the effectiveness of incorporating configurational mechanics into peridynamics for accurate and efficient crack analysis in two-dimensional elasticity.