Formulation and implementation of decohesion elements in an explicit finite element code

A decohesion element, with three different optional constitutive laws, has been implemented in an explicit finite element code. The formulation is fully three dimensional, and can simulate mixed-mode delamination. The first constitutive law is bilinear, the second is a third-order polynomial and the third is a combination of linear and polynomial segments. The bilinear law is found to be less stable than the others under certain numerical conditions. Application examples, including mixed-mode fracture, are presented for all constitutive laws.