Computational modeling of the interaction of two edge cracks, and two edge cracks interacting with a nanovoid, via an atomistic finite element method

The competition and interaction of two edge cracks within the triangular lattice of an fcc material are addressed. We have also examined the effect of presence of a nanovoid in the vicinity of one of the crack-tips, on the competition of the cracks. An atomic scale finite element method (AFEM) [B. Liu, Y. Huang, H. Jiang, S. Qu, K.C. Hwang, The atomic-scale finite element method, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 193 (2004) 1849–1864], based on the Morse interatomic potential, is employed to explore the events in the (1 1 1) plane. Particular attention is given to the phenomenon of brittle-to-ductile transition (BDT) that occurs during crack propagation.