Phase-Field Simulation of Fracture in Polymethyl Methacrylate

Significant interest and developments have emerged in phase-field fracture modeling. The method approximates fracture continuously by introducing a length-scale parameter, accurately simulating fracture initiation and crack propagation in brittle materials like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with nonlinear elasticity. This study proposes a phase-field approach for simulating PMMA fracture behavior. ABAQUS implements a nonlinear elastic material model (UMAT) and a three-layered element composition (UEL). The staggered approach sequentially solves displacements and phase-field variables. Numerical results validate against experiments with various geometries, stress concentrators, and pre-cracks, accurately predicting fracture initiation and growth, even in cases of complex crack patterns and diverse loading conditions.