A hybrid multiscale finite element/peridynamics method

A hybrid method is presented that uses a representative volume element-based multiscale finite element technique combined with a peridynamics method for modeling fracture surfaces. The hybrid method dynamically switches from finite element computations to peridynamics based on a damage criterion defined on the peridynamics grid, which is coincident with the nodes of the finite element mesh. Nodal forces are either computed by the finite element method or peridynamics, as appropriate. The multiscale finite element method used here is a representative volume element-based approach so that inhomogeneous local scale material properties can be derived using homogenization. In addition, automatic cohesive zone insertion is used at the local scale to model fracture initiation. Results demonstrate that local scale flaw distributions can alter fracture patterns and initiation times, and the use of cohesive zone insertion can improve accuracy of crack paths.