Third M.I.T. Conference on Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics June 14–17, 2005  

Numerical simulation of dynamical fracture in heterogeneous materials

F. Peralesa,*, Y. Moneriea, F. Duboisb, L. Stainierc
a Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, IRSN/DPAM/SEMCA/LEC, Bat 702 - CE Cadarache - BP3, 13115 St. Paul-Lez-Durance cedex, France bLaboratory of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, LMGC/UMR CNRS 5508, University Montpellier II, CC048, Place Eugene Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France cDepartment of Aerospace, Mechanics and Materials, LTAS-MCT, University of Liège 1 chemin des chevreuils, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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ABSTRACT
A new numerical strategy, based on the coupling between the Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) concept and the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamic (NSCD) approach, for the simulation of the dynamical fracture of heterogeneous materials is presented. The associated software, composed of three libraries with Object Oriented Progamming, allows the simulation, in 3D and large deformation, of the dynamical fracture of non-linear and heterogeneous materials from fracture initiation to post-fracture. The ability of the software, developed by the French 'Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire' (IRSN) in the frame of its research program on nuclear reactor fuel safety, is illustrated on the fracture of an heterogeneous material - the hydrided Zircaloy-4 constituting standard nuclear cladding tubes - submitted to transient loading.

Keywords:  Dynamical fracture; Heterogeneous media; Numerical simulation; Cohesive Zone Model
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 4 42 25 30 54; Fax: +33 4 42 25 61 43; E-mail: frederic.perales@irsn.fr