A new path-following constraint based on elastic unloading angle for damage analysis of quasi-brittle material

Abstract

Numerical modeling of highly non-linear phenomena such as quasibrittle failure requires the choice of a robust solution algorithm. In this contribution, we will propose a new pathfollowing control method which exploits an augmented angle as a global constraint to the static equilibrium equations. The augmented angle consists of the elastic unloading angles in normalized displacementforce planes of all nodes having equivalent nodal forces. This constraint represents an efficient and robust solution while enjoying simplicity and being easy to understand from a graphical point of view. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this constraint function, we will solve several examples of damage failure in quasibrittle materials. The proposed method behaves more robustly in comparison with conventional arclength control methods.