Smoothed point interpolation methods for the regularization of material instabilities in scalar damage models

The nonlocal character embedded in the formulation of smoothed point interpolation methods is exploited, in order to regularize the behavior of the simulations of scalar damage problems affected by strain localization. The use of these methods is made possible by the extension of the weakened weak form that they are based on to the case of elastic‐degrading media, with specific focus on the scalar damage case. The provided numerical simulations emphasize the regularization effects of this class of meshfree methods and the improved mesh objectivity with respect to the standard finite element method. Different strategies for support node selection are considered, pointing out the role played by the size of the support domains regarding the regularization effects.