A scalable algorithm for modeling dynamic fracture and fragmentation of solids in three dimensions is presented. The method is based on a combination of a discontinuous Galerkin (DG) formulation of the continuum problem and Cohesive Zone Models (CZM) of fracture. Prior to fracture, the flux and stabilization terms arising from the DG formulation at interelement boundaries are enforced via interface elements, much like in the conventional intrinsic cohesive element approach, albeit in a way that guarantees consistency and stability. Upon the onset of fracture, the traction-separation law (TSL) governing the fracture process becomes operative without the need to insert a new cohesive element. Upon crack closure, the reinstatement of the DG terms guarantee the proper description of compressive waves across closed crack surfaces.The main advantage of the method is that it avoids the need to propagate topological changes in the mesh as cracks and fragments develop, which enables the Preprint submitted to Elsevier Science 16 August 2010indistinctive treatment of crack propagation across processor boundaries and, thus, the scalability in parallel computations. Another advantage of the method is that it preserves consistency and stability in the uncracked interfaces, thus avoiding issues with wave propagation typical of intrinsic cohesive element approaches.A simple problem of wave propagation in a bar leading to spall at its center is used to show that the method does not affect wave characteristics and as a consequence properly captures the spall process. We also demonstrate the ability of the method to capture intricate patterns of radial and conical cracks arising in the impact of ceramic plates which propagate in the mesh impassive to the presence of processor boundaries.

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a b s t r a c tThe damage and failure of brittle plates subjected to projectile impact is investigated through large-scale three-dimensional simulation using the DG/CZM approach introduced by Radovitzky et al. [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 2011; 200(1-4), 326-344]. Two standard experimental setups are considered: first, we simulate edge-on impact experiments on Al 2 O 3 tiles by Strassburger and Senf [Technical Report ARL-CR-214, Army Research Laboratory, 1995]. Qualitative and quantitative validation of the simulation results is pursued by direct comparison of simulations with experiments at different loading rates and good agreement is obtained. In the second example considered, we investigate the fracture patterns in normal impact of spheres on thin, unconfined ceramic plates over a wide range of loading rates. For both the edge-on and normal impact configurations, the full field description provided by the simulations is used to interpret the mechanisms underlying the crack propagation patterns and their strong dependence on loading rate.