Abstract
This paper presents an application of the explicit solution algorithm for cohesive crack model to 3-D crack propagation analysis of quasi-brittle materials. In the present method, the cohesive property between cracked surfaces is approximated as a kind of cohesive-spring based on the penalty method instead of the traction force in conventional methods. After we show the formulation of the spring-based cohesive crack model and detail the explicit solution algorithms, we assess the approximation properties and computational costs of the proposed method in 3-D tensile failure problem in comparison with that of conventional implicit algorithm with modified Newton-Raphson scheme and 2-D analysis. And we demonstrate the performance of the present method to reproduce the mechanical behavior of size effect in 3-D quasi-brittle structures.
