Crack propagation analysis in composite materials by using moving mesh and multiscale techniques

• A novel multiscale method for crack propagation analysis in composites is proposed.
• An adaptive model refinement is used during crack propagation to improve efficiency.
• Competition between different damage mechanisms is handled during crack simulation.
• Matrix cracking is modeled by a novel optimization strategy based on moving meshes.
• The proposed approach is validated by original comparisons with existing methods.

A novel concurrent multiscale method for the crack propagation analysis in heterogeneous materials is proposed, based on a non-overlapping domain decomposition technique coupled with an adaptive zoom-in strategy. Both fiber/matrix interfacial debonding and matrix cracking are accounted for; the latter one is modeled by using an innovative shape optimization method coupling a moving mesh technique and a gradient-free optimization solver. Numerical applications are carried out with reference to the failure analysis of a single notched fiber-reinforced composite beam subjected to both mode-I and mixed-mode crack propagation conditions. The validity of the proposed method is assessed through original comparison models.