Comparative evaluation of gradient and integral non-local damage models in ductile fracture simulations
Engineering Fracture Mechanics, cilt.347, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 347
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2026.112645
- Dergi Adı: Engineering Fracture Mechanics
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Compendex, INSPEC, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Ductile fracture, Gradient-enhanced damage method, Integral-type damage method, Non-local models
- Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Non-local regularization is critical for ensuring mesh objectivity and physical consistency in numerical predictions of ductile failure. Integral-type and gradient-enhanced formulations have emerged as the two dominant frameworks for introducing length scales into continuum damage models. In this work, both approaches are comparatively assessed for simulating ductile failure within the ABAQUS finite element environment, employing a von Mises plastic material with isotropic hardening and damage. One- and two-dimensional benchmarks are utilized to examine the equivalence of these formulations under standard exponential and Gaussian weight functions. Furthermore, a modified integral formulation is proposed that explicitly incorporates the local measure, length in 1D or area in 2D, into the non-local integral evaluation. Numerical examples covering both small- and large-scale yielding are presented to evaluate regularization behavior, computational aspects, and damage topology. The results clarify the similarities and distinctions between the two approaches, offering practical guidance for their implementation in ductile failure simulations. It is shown that the theoretically equivalent weight function for the integral formulation reproduces non-local fields only in the one-dimensional case when the area-modified formulation is employed. Moreover, incorporating the local length or area leads to improved agreement with the gradient-enhanced formulation and results in a more consistent and effective non-localization overall. In the vicinity of crack faces, the gradient-enhanced framework naturally captures the structural deformation while appropriately solving the non-local field, whereas the integral approach, in the absence of specific spatial treatment, tends to over-diffuse the field across the crack surfaces.