Phase field fracture modelling using quasi-Newton methods and a new adaptive step scheme

We investigate the potential of quasi-Newton methods in facilitating convergence of monolithic solution schemes for phase field fracture modelling. Several paradigmatic boundary value problems are addressed, spanning the fields of quasi-static fracture, fatigue damage and dynamic cracking. The finite element results obtained reveal the robustness of quasi-Newton monolithic schemes, with convergence readily attained under both stable and unstable...