Phase-field Thermomechanics of Dynamic Fracture

Recognition & Dissemination

This work has been supported, reviewed, and presented in peer-facing academic settings spanning fracture mechanics, computational materials science, and numerical modeling.

• Recipient, Competitive Computing Allocation
  MCH240083: Thermomechanics of Dynamic Fracture
  Awarded high-performance computing access on the PSC Bridges-2 supercomputing system to support large-scale thermomechanical fracture simulations
• Presenter and Session Co-Chair, Modeling and Simulation session
  Fracture in Metals: Insights from Experiments and Modeling Across Length and Time Scales
  symposium at Materials Science & Technology Conference, October 2024
• Contributed Presentation
  SIAM Conference on Mathematical Aspects of Materials Science, May 2024
• Finalist
  ASTM M.R. Mitchell Student Presentation Forum on Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics , November 2023

Implementation & Tools

• Numerical Methods: Finite element methods, phase-field fracture modeling, coupled thermomechanical formulations
• Finite Element Framework: FEniCS for variational formulation, automatic differentiation, and solver development
• Time Integration: Implicit, semi-implicit, and staggered solution schemes for dynamic problems
• Scientific Computing: Python-based scientific computing and numerical experimentation
• Solver Architecture: Modular solver design supporting monolithic and staggered coupling strategies
• Verification & Validation: Manufactured solutions and benchmark-driven verification
• High-Performance Computing: Distributed-memory execution and large-scale parameter studies on allocated HPC systems
• Tooling & Workflow: Version control, reproducible simulation pipelines, and structured result logging

What This Demonstrates

• Ability to design and implement custom numerical solvers for coupled, multiphysics problems rather than relying on black-box tools
• Strong command of variational methods, time integration strategies, and stability considerations in dynamic simulations
• Experience managing computationally intensive research workflows, including scaling studies on high-performance computing systems
• Discipline in verification and validation through manufactured solutions and benchmark-driven testing
• Capacity to communicate complex technical work to expert audiences, including conference presentations and session leadership
• Research judgment in balancing model fidelity, numerical robustness, and computational cost

Context

This section will be expanded following formal publication to outline the physical and modeling context of the problem.

The project addresses fundamental questions in dynamic fracture and thermomechanical coupling, with an emphasis on numerical modeling and large-scale computation.

If you are interested in the technical details, methodology, or potential applications, feel free to reach out directly.

Approach

A detailed description of the numerical formulation and solution strategy will be provided following publication.

The work combines continuum thermomechanics, phase-field representations of fracture, and time-dependent numerical solution strategies, with a focus on robustness and physical consistency.

For discussion of the technical approach, solver design decisions, or potential extensions, please reach out directly.

Key Results

Quantitative results from this work are under review and will be released following formal publication.

The study yields quantitative insights into dynamic fracture behavior under coupled thermomechanical loading, supported by verified numerical simulations.

Additional details are available upon request.

Analysis & Insights

Interpretation and synthesis of the numerical results will be documented following publication.

The analysis focuses on the interplay between thermomechanical coupling, fracture evolution, and numerical stability in dynamic settings.

For technical discussion or context on the insights derived from this work, please reach out directly.

Artifacts & Links

Artifacts will be linked after publication.