Materials and structures need to be investigated in order to evaluate durability and failure behaviour. Simulations by the finite element method may be a useful tool in order to assess and analyse the fracture mechanical behaviour of structures.
Nowa-days, different methods are available depending on the questions to be answered and the materials to be investigated. On the one hand, we have continuum mechanical approaches based on nonlocal damage or phase field methods. On the other hand, discrete cracks can be simulated by the so-called eigenerosion method or the material force approach combined with r-adaptivity and node-splitting algorithms.
The presentation will focus on some of the current methods and will investigate dif-ferent materials like polymers, concrete and wood.
