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Influence of the stress gradient on crack-growth initiation in variational phase-field models of fracture
1 : Université du Luxembourg
(UL)
-
Site web
2, place de l'Université L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette -
Luxembourg
2 : Institut Jean Le Rond d'Alembert
(DALEMBERT)
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Site web
* : Auteur correspondant
Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique : UMR7190
Boite 162 4 place Jussieu 75005 Paris -
France
This study investigates the influence of macroscopic stress gradient on crack-growth initiation within the variational phase-field model. By analyzing an edge-cracked plate under non-uniform tension, we demonstrate that the stress gradient stabilizes nucleation and significantly alters the size effect derived for uniform tensile loading. We identify a critical defect size that minimizes the initiation load, separating small, unstable flaws from large, stable ones that can be arrested. These findings highlight the interplay between material and structural length scales in predicting fracture onset.
