Determination of the growth of branched cracks by numerical methods

In order to determine the growth of branched cracks in brittle materials, a static stress analysis for a branched crack model is performed by the finite element method. Assuming vanishing Mode II stress intensity factor as the governing criterion the growth is followed in several steps. Secondary branching is also analysed. In a quasi-dynamic analysis energy balance considerations are used to study growth of two branches of unequal lengths. It is shown that at low velocities the shorter branch will be rapidly arrested, while at very high velocities the two branches will continue to grow with nearly the same velocity.