Numerical insight of a variational smeared approach to cohesive fracture

In the present paper we numerically investigate and validate a variational smeared model for cohesive crack, recently proposed and theoretically justified by Γ-convergence. To achieve this main goal, we first analyze the response of a bar subjected to traction. Possible solutions are discussed, reconstructing the classical cohesive fracture energy and its related stress-crack opening law through a backtracking procedure. Preliminary 2D investigations are also conducted by using a regularized version of the adopted formulation. This permits to explore the transition phase of the damage evolution and to determine the peculiarities of the model, such as mesh-objectivity and Γ-convergence as damage concentration is forced. Therefore, the numerical simulations confirm the analytical results and put the basis for further engineering applications and possible improvements of the model.