Phase Field Fracture in Elastoplastic Solids: Strain Energy Decomposition and Shell Formulations

Jiang, Yang

Phase Field Fracture in Elastoplastic Solids: Strain Energy Decomposition and Shell Formulations

Jiang, Yang

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Jiang, Yang
dc.date.accessioned	2026-04-08T04:52:59Z
dc.date.available	2026-04-08T04:52:59Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194606
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	This thesis presents advanced phase-field models for simulating fracture in both solid and thin-walled structures. The research comprises two parts: solid-based and shell-based phase-field modelling. In the first part, a double phase-field model is developed to distinguish tensile and shear fracture evolution in elastoplastic solids through a crack-orientation-based energy decomposition. Plastic effects are incorporated via mode-dependent energy release rates, and the model is validated against experiments and 3D benchmarks. A unified strain energy decomposition method is further proposed to ensure consistent fracture prediction under arbitrary stress states. In the second part, a five-layer shell phase-field model is formulated to capture through-thickness damage using stress-state-dependent fracture criteria (MMC for 316L steel and Bao–Wierzbicki for Ti–6Al–4V). The model accurately reproduces experimental fracture behaviour in cylindrical, square-tube, and battery casing structures. An explicit dynamic shell phase-field model is also developed, incorporating temperature and strain-rate effects via the Johnson–Cook flow rule. Overall, this thesis enhances predictive fracture modelling under complex stress and dynamic conditions, offering insights for structural engineering, battery safety, and impact-resistant material design.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/194606/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2025 Yang Jiang
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/cph
dc.title	Phase Field Fracture in Elastoplastic Solids: Strain Energy Decomposition and Shell Formulations	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

This thesis presents advanced phase-field models for simulating fracture in both solid and thin-walled structures. The research comprises two parts: solid-based and shell-based phase-field modelling. In the first part, a double phase-field model is developed to distinguish tensile and shear fracture evolution in elastoplastic solids through a crack-orientation-based energy decomposition. Plastic effects are incorporated via mode-dependent energy release rates, and the model is validated against experiments and 3D benchmarks. A unified strain energy decomposition method is further proposed to ensure consistent fracture prediction under arbitrary stress states. In the second part, a five-layer shell phase-field model is formulated to capture through-thickness damage using stress-state-dependent fracture criteria (MMC for 316L steel and Bao–Wierzbicki for Ti–6Al–4V). The model accurately reproduces experimental fracture behaviour in cylindrical, square-tube, and battery casing structures. An explicit dynamic shell phase-field model is also developed, incorporating temperature and strain-rate effects via the Johnson–Cook flow rule. Overall, this thesis enhances predictive fracture modelling under complex stress and dynamic conditions, offering insights for structural engineering, battery safety, and impact-resistant material design.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/194606