From continuum mechanics to fracture mechanics: the strong discontinuity approach

The paper deals with the strong discontinuity approach and shows the links with the decohesive fracture mechanics provided by that approach. On the basis of 1D continuum damage models it is shown that, by introducing some few ingredients like the strong discontinuity kinematics, discrete constitutive models (traction vs. displacement jumps) are automatically induced. For the general 2D–3D cases it is shown that the weak discontinuity concept is an additional ingredient, necessary in order to fulfill the strong discontinuity conditions, which allows to establish additional links with the fracture process zone concept. Also classical fracture mechanics properties as the fracture energy are related to the continuum model properties in a straightforward manner.