The Phase Field Damage Interface
The Phase Field Damage multiphysics interface () combines the Solid Mechanics and Phase Field in Solids interfaces to model the evolution of damage and cracks in deforming solids.
The coupling occurs on the domain level, where the driving force for damage depends on the state of deformation in the solid, which governs the evolution of the phase field. In turn, the phase field determines the degradation of the solid properties in the damaged regions.
The interface can be used for stationary and time-dependent analyses in 3D, 2D, and 2D axisymmetric domains.
When a predefined Phase Field Damage interface is added from the Structural Mechanics branch () of the Model Wizard or Add Physics windows, the Solid Mechanics and Phase Field in Solids interfaces are added to the Model Builder.
In addition, the Multiphysics node is added, which automatically includes the Phase Field Damage multiphysics coupling.
On the Constituent Physics Interfaces
Settings for Physics Interfaces and Coupling Features
When physics interfaces are added using the predefined couplings, for example Phase Field Damage, specific settings are included with the physics interfaces and the coupling features.
However, if the physics interfaces are added one at a time, followed by the coupling features, these predefined settings are not automatically included.
For example, if single Solid Mechanics and Phase Field in Solids interfaces are added, an empty Multiphysics node appears in the model tree. You can choose from the available coupling features, but the settings in the constituent interfaces are not modified.
Coupling features are available from the context menu (right-click the Multiphysics node) or from the Physics toolbar, Multiphysics menu.
For the Solid Mechanics interface, under Structural Transient Behavior, the Structural transient behavior is set to Quasistatic.
For the Phase Field in Solids interface, a Phase Field Model node is added by default with a Quadratic potential function.
The Domain Selection is the same as that of the participating physics interfaces.