A stochastic damage model for the rupture prediction of a multi-phase solid - Part I: Parametric studies

In this paper, a stochastic damage model is proposed for the rupture prediction of a brittle, multi-phase material. The model, based on the macrocrack-microcrack interaction, characterizes damage by microcracking and fracture by macrocracking. The model incorporates uncertainties in locations, orientations and numbers of microcracks. Owing to the high concentration of microcracks within the frontal damage zone near the macro-tip, a higher order analysis based on traction boundary integral equations is formulated for an arbitrary array of cracks. The change of the stress intensity at the macrocrack tip by the configuration of microcracks is investigated through a parametric study. The presence of large fluctuation in the stress intensity at the macro-tip justifies the use of the statistical approach, which will be presented in a companion paper.