Nonsmooth fracture dynamics of functionally graded materials

This paper presents a numerical framework for the simulation of dynamic fracture of heterogeneous material. It consists in a multibody approach based both on the concept of Frictional Cohesive Zone Model and on NonSmooth Contact Dynamics. The heterogeneities of the material are taken into account using a multiscale method. The microscopic scale corresponds to the scale of heterogeneities. The macroscopic scale corresponds to the structure where gradients of properties will be invoked. The ability of the framework is illustrated by the fracture of hydrided Zircaloy-4, constituting nuclear cladding tube, under transient loading