From diffuse damage to sharp cohesive cracks: A coupled XFEM framework for failure analysis of quasi-brittle materials

Failure of quasi-brittle materials is governed by crack formation and propagation which can be characterized by two phases: (i) diffuse material degradation process with initial crack formation and (ii) severe localization of damage leading to the propagation of large cracks and fracture. While continuum damage mechanics provides an excellent framework to describe the first failure phase, it is unable to represent discontinuous displacement...