In this work, the recently proposed cracking elements method (CEM) is used to simulate the damage processes of structures with initial imperfections. The CEM is built within the framework of the conventional finite element method (FEM) and is formally similar to a special type of finite element. Disconnected piecewise cracks are used to represent the crack paths. With the advantage of the CEM for which both the initiation and propagation of cracks can be captured naturally, we numerically study uniaxial compression tests on specimens with multiple joints and fissures, where the cracks may propagate from the tips or from other unexpected positions. Although uniaxial compression tests are considered, tensile damage criteria are mainly used in the numerical model. On the one hand, the results demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the CEM, while, on the other hand, some drawbacks of the present model are demonstrated, indicating directions for future work.

中文翻译：

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应用裂纹元法分析裂隙结构的破坏过程

在这项工作中，最近提出的裂纹单元方法（CEM）被用来模拟具有初始缺陷的结构的破坏过程。CEM建立在常规有限元方法（FEM）的框架内，并且在形式上类似于特殊类型的有限元。断开的分段裂纹用于表示裂纹路径。利用CEM的优势，可以自然地捕获裂纹的萌生和扩展，因此，我们对具有多个接缝和裂缝的标本进行了单轴压缩试验的数值研究，其中裂纹可能从尖端或其他意外位置扩展出来。尽管考虑了单轴压缩试验，但拉伸损伤准则主要用于数值模型中。一方面，结果证明了CEM的稳健性和有效性，