Computational aspects of crack path development simulation in materials with nonlinear process zone

The issues addressed here are the accuracy and legitimacy of some strategies used in computational procedures simulating crack path development in materials exhibiting nonlinear behavior in the crack tip process zone. Relatively small errors in determination of the crack path deflection angle lead to a significant cumulative deviation of crack path over a finite crack length. The results presented here demonstrate that to ensure a consistent and accurate crack path simulation in material with a nonlinear process zone, the crack path probing segment must be continuously adjusted in coordination with the probing crack path deflection angle. Possible criteria of the crack path deflection in these materials are discussed here as well.