Phase-field modelling of diffuse fracture with FEM

In damage models, cracks are considered in a smeared way, without any geometric representation of the region where the crack takes place, and the energy released is used in crack growth that is controlled by the energy fracture parameter. Phase-field models consider a diffuse and smooth crack that belongs to a certain volume region, where a function describes the crack density. In that region each point has a field variable that quantifies the material degradation. The phase-field techniques allows to detect crack paths and its bifurcation without having a pre-existent crack. The purpose of this work is to present some phase-field models implemented in the INSANE (Interactive Structural ANalysis Environment system) software, an structural analysis open-source software developed by at the Structural Engineering department (DEES) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). This work opens a new research line inside the INSANE Project. Some preliminary results will be presented.