A phase field-based framework for electro-chemo-mechanical fracture: Crack-contained electrolytes, chemical reactions and stabilisation
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Hageman, Tim
Martínez-Pañeda, Emilio
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We present a new theoretical and computational framework for modelling electro-chemo-mechanical fracture. The model combines a phase field description of fracture with a fully coupled characterisation of electrolyte behaviour, surface chemical reactions and stress-assisted diffusion. Importantly, a new physics-based formulation is presented to describe electrolyte-containing phase field cracks, appropriately capturing the sensitivity of electrochemical transport and reaction kinetics to the crack opening height. Unlike other existing methods, this approach is shown to accurately capture the results obtained with discrete fracture simulations. The potential of the electro-chemo-mechanical model presented is demonstrated by particularising it to the analysis of hydrogen embrittlement in metallic samples exposed to aqueous electrolytes. The finite element implementation takes as nodal degrees-of-freedom the electrolyte potential, the concentrations of relevant ionic species, the surface coverage, the concentration of diluted species, the displacement field and the phase field order parameter. Particular attention is devoted to improve stability and efficiency, resulting in the development of strategies for avoiding ill-constrained degrees of freedom and lumped integration schemes that eliminate numerical oscillations. The numerical experiments conducted showcase the ability of the model to deliver assumptions-free predictions for systems involving both free-flowing and crack-contained electrolytes. The results obtained highlight the role of electrolyte behaviour in driving the cracking process, evidencing the limitations of existing models.
Date Issued
2023-10
Date Acceptance
2023-07-03
Citation
Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2023, 415, pp.1-30
ISSN
0045-7825
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
1
End Page
30
Journal / Book Title
Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
Volume
415
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2023.116235
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
116235
Date Publish Online
2023-07-20