A novel physical continuum damage model for the finite element simulation of crack growth mechanism in quasi-brittle geomaterials

This paper addresses a physical damage model and continuum damage-based fracture simulation procedure for simulating crack initiation, growth and cracks coalescence of quasi-brittle geomaterials. The model is proposed by using the principle of minimum dissipative energy combining with Drucker-Prager criterion, in which every parameter of the damage model has clear physical meaning. The procedure coupled with the damage model can be used to...