Simulation of crack patterns in quasi-brittle materials under thermal shock using phase field and cohesive zone models

Complex crack patterns are usually formed on the surface of brittle and quasi-brittle solids under thermal shock. In this paper, the phase field coupled cohesive zone model is established to simulate the brittle and quasi-brittle fracture processes in three-dimensional solids, especially to reproduce the complex crack patterns under thermal shock. Several examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the model to complex fracture problems under thermal shock: from uniaxial tensile and thermal shrinkage fracture of a one-dimensional rod to nucleation, propagation, and crack pattern formation of thermal shock crack of a three-dimensional ceramic bottle. In addition, the formation mechanism of crack patterns in ceramic bottle is discussed, especially the dominant role of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the ceramic matrix layer and the glaze layer in the formation of crack patterns and the final crack density.