Strain localization due to crack–microcrack interactions: X-FEM for a multifield approach Original Research Article

The interaction between a macrocrack and a population of microcracks is analyzed by adapting the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) to a multifield model of microcracked bodies. Strain localization effects around the tip of the macroscopic crack are obtained within the setting of linear constitutive equations and are precursors toward the crack growth. Comparisons with a standard finite element method are also presented.