Multiphase-Field Modelling of Crack Propagation in Polycrystalline Materials (10/03/26)

Speaker and Affliation:

Dr. Daniel Schneider

Deputy Head of unit, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany

When?

10^th March, 2026 (Tuesday), 03.00 PM (India Standard Time)

Where

KPA Auditorium, Dept. of Materials Engineering, IISc, Bangalore

Abstract:

Predicting crack propagation in heterogeneous and polycrystalline materials requires models that resolve complex microstructural interactions. Phase-field approaches provide a robust framework for describing crack nucleation and evolution without explicit interface tracking. This talk presents a multiphase-field formulation for fracture in multiphase and polycrystalline systems. The model incorporates phase-dependent elastic properties, anisotropic fracture resistance, and mechanically consistent jump conditions within a variational setting. Validation against analytical and fracture mechanics benchmarks ensures quantitative reliability. Applications demonstrate intergranular and transgranular crack propagation as well as crack–grain boundary interaction in complex microstructures. The results highlight the importance of thermodynamic consistency and appropriate coupling strategies for predictive fracture modelling in heterogeneous material systems.