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Implementation of Cohesive Zone in ABAQUS to Investigate Fracture

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Conference Paper · May 2015

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 National Conference for Engineering Post Graduates RIT NConPG - 15. ISBN-13:978-1512094169

Implementation of Cohesive Zone in ABAQUS to

Investigate Fracture Problems
Ajinkya K. Salve1, Sudhindra N. Jalwadi 2
1
Mechanical Engineering Department, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Sakhrale, Sangli
2
Mechanical Engineering Department, Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Sakhrale, Sangli
1
ajinkya.salve@ritindia.edu
2
sudhindra.jalwadi@ritindia.edu

Abstract –In a Specimen with a crack, cohesive zone is the area between two separating but still sufficiently close surfaces ahead of the
crack tip. Cohesive zone is described by means of cohesive zone models most modern emerging area in computational mechanics to get
Traction-Separation law. In this research, cohesive zone is implemented in a standard finite element framework of ABAQUS to
investigate the crack initiation and its propagation in solids. Implementation procedure of cohesive zone through inbuilt cohesive
elements, cohesive interaction and UEL-(User defined element) along with various case studies such as elastic-plastic analysis of
rectangular plate, debonding of Double Cantilever Beam and Patch test to get traction-separation curve is discussed.
Keywords— Crack, Cohesive zone, Traction-Separation

1. Introduction
The Cohesive zone models are the most important evolutions in
the area of Fracture mechanics.It is widely used to simulate the
crack initiation and its propogation in solids and It is also an
alternative method for model sepeartion. For CZM fracture
formation is regarded as a gradual phenomenon in which the
separation of the surfaces involving in the crack takes place across Fig2a -Bilinear CZM [2] Fig 2b-Parabolic CZM[2]
an extended crack tip, or cohesive zone, and is resisted by cohesive
tractions. (Kyoungsoo and Paulino, 2012) Thus cohesive zone
elements do not represent any physical material, but describe the
cohesive forces which occur when material elements (such as
grains) are being pulled apart, therefore cohesive zone elements are
placed between continuum (bulk) elements, as shown in fig.

Fig2c-Sinusoidal CZM[2] Fig2d-Exponential CZM[2]

The area under Traction(𝜎)- separation (δ) curve is equal to

Fig 1 -Application of cohesive zone elements along bulk element
boundaries
The Concept of CZM is introduced by the Barenblatt in
1959 for brittle fracture and this is followed by Dugdale in
1960,
The CZM are represented by Traction i.e. Force and
Seperation i.e. Displacement. The variation in traction in
relation to displacement is plotted on a curve and is called
the traction (𝜎)-separation (δ) curve. In CZM Cohesive
traction-separation relationships may be classified as either
nonpotential-based models or potential-based models.
(Kyoungsoo and Paulino, 2012) And its nature may be
Bilinear, Parabolic, Sinusoidal and Exponential depending
upon Constitutive Equations used to define Potential
function, Traction and Seperation1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 below
(Volokh, 2004)
the energy needed for separation i.e. Fracture energy G.For
Normal Traction(Tn)-Normal Seperation (δn) it is Normal
Fracture energy (Gn) and for Tangential Traction (T t)-
Tangential Seperation (δt). The Traction-Displacement
curve gives the constitutive behavior of the fracture. The
amount of fracture energy dissipated in the work region
depends on the shape of the model considered. Also, the
ratio between maximum stress and the yield stress affects
the length of fracture process zone. Smaller the ratio, longer
is the process zone while larger is the ratio, smaller is the
process zone (Volokh, 2004). The CZM allows the energy
to flow into the fracture process zone, where a part of it is
spent in the forward region and rest in the wake region
1.1 Advantages of CZM
The CZMs are having the major advantages over the
conventional methods of fracture mechanics like
LEFM(Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics), CTOD(Crack
Tip Opening Displacement) etc.as follows(Kyoungsoo and
Paulino, 2011):

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1.It is useful in predicting the behaviour of uncracked
structures as well as the structures including blunt notches
2.In CZM size of nonlinear zone need not be negligible in
comparison with other dimensions of the cracked geometry,
in other methods it is not so
3.Even for brittle materials, the presence of an initial crack
is needed for LEFM to be applicable,for CZM it is not so
4.CZM falls in the conceptual framework for interfaces.
1.2 Cohesive Elements in Abaqus.
Abaqus is a software suited for finite element analysis (both
linear and Nonlinear),used in the automotive, aerospace
applications. This is most widely used in academic and
research institutions due to the its material modeling
capability, and the program's ability to be customized (User
Subroutines). Abaqus offers a library of cohesive elements
to model the behavior of adhesive joints, interfaces in
composites, gaskets and rock fracture and other situations
where the integrity and strength of interfaces may be of
interest.Finite thickness or zero thickness cohesive elements
are created to perform 2D and 3D fracture analysis.
Choosing of Cohesive element type – It includes elements
for two dimensional (2D), three dimensional (3D) and
axisymmetric (AX) analysis.
For example - COH2D4 is a 4-node, two-dimensional
cohesive element.
Fig 3-Naming Convention of Cohesive Elements[8]
The constitutive response of these elements depends on the
deformation and stress state that are appropriate for specific
application area. The nature of the mechanical constitutive
response may broadly be classified to be based on
(Kyoungsoo and Paulino, 2012):
• Continuum description of the material based on
constitutive equations i.e. Material models
• Traction-separation description of the interface
• A uniaxial stress state appropriate for modeling gaskets
and/or laterally unconstrained adhesive patches.
2. Literature Review
M.Elices et al., 2002 ,have presented advantages,
limitations & challenges of cohesive zone model which can
deal with the nonlinear zone ahead of crack tip due to
plasticity & micro cracking in many materials. The first
section of this research illustrates about general
considerations, experimental determination of softening
function by inverse analysis procedure, and is devoted with
experimental validation of cohesive zone model some
examples of predictive capability of CZM when applied to
different materials like concrete, polymer (polymethyl-
methacrylate) & steel under Mode-I & mixed mode loading.
Cornec et al., 2003 have presented assessment of
engineering structures for formulation of cohesive models
such that it can be used for practical application. the
cohesive stress T0 preceded by steep slope and the area
under the traction-seperation curve gives cohesive energy Γ0.
determination of various parameters like cohesive stress,
cohesive energy is carried out by means of experiments on
three different materials Aluminum 2024-FC, Aluminum
2024-T351, Pressure vessel steel 20 MnMoNi 55 and
different specimen geometries like NRB,C(T),surface
cracked surface specimen.R-curves gives good agreement
with experimental results.
Glaucio and Paulino et al., 2011 have presented traction-
seperation relationship for Potential & Non-Potential based
cohesive zone models. This research formulates one
dimensional effective displacement models under a single
framework includes Model by Tvergaard and Hutchinson,
Model by Ortiz and Pandolfi, Model by Geubelle and
Baylor with its merits and limitations as well as Cubic-
Linear, Revisited Cubic-Linear Potential based models with
polynomials and Exponential-Periodic, Generalized
Exponential-Periodic, Exponential-Exponential models with
universal binding energy by using all these models
constitutive relationship is established for mixed-mode
cohesive fractures.
Park et al., 2014 have done research on a Potential based
cohesive zone model also called as PPR(Park-Paulino-
Rosseler) model by using user defined elements (UEL) in
commercial software Abaqus. This paper tells about
computational implementation of Two dimensional linear
cohesive elements for determination of cohesive interaction
region,cohesive traction vector and tangent matrix along
with its algorithm for contact,softening,unloading/reloading
and complete failure criterion.three case studies that is Patch
test for mode-I & mode-II,Mixed mode bending
analysis,Multiscale analysis through matrix/particle
debonding are investigated to implement & verify PPR
model.
Daniel W. Spring et al. have implemented a small library
of three dimensional cohesive elements by using user
defined elements in commercial software like Abaqus those
are compatible with linear brick, linear tetrahedral and
quadratic tetrahedral bulk elements. this paper presents
intrinsic PPR model for implementation and user
modification of unloading/reloading relations, material
gradation, contact relation.the capabilities of the elements
will be demonstrated by using test problems like mixed-
mode bending, small deformation coated particle bonding,
finite deformation particle debonding.
In this research we are implementing the cohesive zone
through inbuilt cohesive elements and UEL(User Defined
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Elements) to investigate fracture problems to get Traction-

Separation curve for various case studies.

3. Implementation Of Cohesive Zone in ABAQUS

The cohesive behavior can be implemented

1. Element based modeled with cohesive elements
2. Surface based modeled with contact pairs in
Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit.
3. As a User defined Elements (UEL) to implement our own
elements

I).Element based Cohesive Zone Modelling in ABAQUS

1. Create Part for given dimensions

2. Assign Material properties
a) Laminate Fig 5-Bilinear Traction-Separation curve for Mode I(Opening Mode)
b) Cohesive- i) Mechanical - Elastic - Coupled Traction
ii)Mechanical -Damage for Traction 4. The elastic modulus of the traction separation law should
Separation Quade, Maxe, Quads, Maxs, be interpreted as penalty stiffness
Maxpe,Maxps For example, From above figure for opening mode i.e.
3.Create and Assign Section. Mode I:
a) Laminate
b) Cohesive
4. Assign Mesh - Create part mesh (Orphan mesh) Where Knn ,Kss ,Ktt is the stiffness of the cohesive element in
Mesh – Offset solid layers – Select the cohesive layer normal, first shear and second shear direction ,Nmax is the
Total thickness = 0 mm – No. of layers = 1 – Create the maximum Traction and is the displacement at damage
set for elements initiation.
5. Mesh Element type – Select Cohesive element set – 5.In this material definition the values of E/Knn represents
Assign cohesive elements (COH2D,COH3D) to zero stiffness of cohesive element in normal direction prior to
thickness strip and other element type such as (Plain damage ,G1/Kss,G2/Ktt are the slopes of Traction Seperation
stress(CPS4) or Plain strain(CPE4) law corresponding to Mode II and Mode III fracture
respectively
6. In ABAQUS, Traction is Nominal stress and Separation
is nominal strain quantities used for traction-seperation
law.If constitutive thickness for cohesive element is unity
then separation is nominal strain else for non-unit thickness
scaling of the data to get correct value of stiffnesses Knn
Kss ,Ktt is needed
.
Damage Initiation Criteria
Damage initiation behavior required for

1. Elasticity behavior - elasticity based on a traction-

separation description for cohesive element or elasticity
model for fiber-reinforced composites.
2. Plasticity behavior – metal plasticity or Drucker- Prager
plasticity.

Fig 4-Typical Exponential Traction-Separation curve

•Summary of Damage initiation criteria

Cohesive Material Definition 1. Maximum nominal stress criterion

Linear Elasticity with damage-
1 .It defines the response of the material before initiation of
the damage.
*DAMAGE INITIATION, CRITERION =
2. It relates the nominal stress and nominal strain.
3. It is defined by means of Uncoupled/Coupled Traction MAXS
behavior where nominal stress depends upon nominal strain

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 National Conference for Engineering Post Graduates RIT NConPG - 15. ISBN-13:978-1512094169

2. Quadratic nominal stress criterion
*DAMAGE INITIATION, CRITERION =QUADS
3. Maximum nominal strain criterion
*DAMAGE INITIATION, CRITERION
4. Quadratic nominal strain criterion
Where is the scalar damage variable its value lies in
between 0 and 1, when D=0 and D=1 it represents
undamaged and fully damaged material response. is the
effective stress tensor computed in the current increment
and is the stresses that would exist in the material in the
absence of damage. When D=1,material has lost its load
carrying capacity and all the elements are removed from the
mesh.
Damage evolution is based on the energy or displacement is
discussed as follows
=MAXE
i) Displacement based damage evolution
The Damage is a function of effective displacement

Where is Effective Displacement

*DAMAGE INITIATION, CRITERION =QUADE
, and are the displacements in pure normal , first
shear and second shear directions respectively
Where , and are nominal stress, , and are
nominal strain in pure normal, and first,second directions
respectively

Damage Evolution
In Damage evolution phase, material loses its strength and
describes the rate of degradation of the material stiffness once
the corresponding damage initiation criteria has been reached.
Post damage initiation response is defined by scalar damage
equation as

D=0: for undamaged, D=1: for fully damaged

Fig 7 -Linear post damage initiation response

The Post damage initiation response can be Linear,

Exponential and Tabular

I) For Linear and Exponential Softening-Specify the

effective displacement at complete failure relative to
the effective displacement at the initiation .
II) For Tabular Softening-Specify the scalar damage
variable D directly as a function of δ –
III) Mixed Mode behavior-It is a function of effective
displacement in tabular form otherwise it is taken as Mode-
Independent

*DAMAGE EVOLUTION, TYPE =DISPLACEMENT,

SOFTENING = {LINEAR | EXPONENTIAL
|TABULAR}

Fig 6-Typical Damage Response for cohesive MIXED MODE BEHAVIOR = TABULAR

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ii) Energy based damage evolution- III). Cohesive zone Modelling through UEL (User Defined
Element) subroutine
The Fracture energy can be defined as a function of mode
mix either a tabular form or one of the two analytical forms UEL is used for defining elements with arbitrary complexity
given below by knowing number of nodes on elements and DOF for each
node. The main purpose of UEL i.e. User Defined element is
I) Power Law to provide stiffness matrix (Jacobian matrix) ,Right hand side
vector(Residual nodal forces and fluxes) and solution
dependent state variables [7]
UEL is subroutine written in FORTRAN.
User Defined Input file and UEL FORTRAN file is to be run
by means of ABAQUS command window to get the .odb file
Where , and are the Fracture energy in normal that is output database for a given application as shown in fig
mode, Shear mode in first and second directions respectively

II) BK (Benzeggaph Kennane)

For isotropic failure the response is Fig 8-ABAQUS command window

insensitive to the value of For the cohesive zone modelling through UEL ,evaluation
of Cohesive traction vector and tangent matrix is necessary
Where which is based on four conditions softening ,
loading/reloading, contact and complete failure for the PPR
model.
Where , and are the critical Ffracture energy in
Cohesive elements and their material properties are defined
normal mode,Shear mode in first and second directions by means of ABAQUS input file to simulate example
problems like mixed mode bending and Patch test analysis
respectively
by using *USER ELEMENT command. For example [1]
*DAMAGE EVOLUTION, TYPE=ENERGY
*USER ELEMENT, TYPE=U1, NODES=4,
SOFTENING = {LINEAR | EXPONENTIAL} COORDINATES=2, PROPERTIES=9, VARIABLES=6,
MIXED MODE BEHAVIOR = {TABULAR | POWER 1,2
|BK} Where TYPE is name of the element type, NODES is
POWER = value number of nodes, COORDINATES is the largest active
degree of freedom, PROPERTIES are number of input
parameters, VARIABLES are number of solution dependent
II). Surface based Cohesive Zone Modelling in ABAQUS variables and 1,2 are horizontal and vertical displacements
for the given element type.
1. Create Part for given dimensions
The Element connectivity for the given element type are
2. Material properties- Assign the material properties to the provided as follows
given model
*ELEMENT, TYPE=U1, ELSET=COH_ELE
3. Section properties – Create the section and assign
properties for it Where ELSET is the name of the element (here for e.g.
COH_ELE ) to which elements are assigned, for these input
4. Mesh –Mesh the model parameters are assigned as follows

5. Create Interaction- First Create the interaction for a *UEL PROPERTY, ELSET=COH_ELE
selected step type-Surface to Surface contact (Standard)
then select the master surface and slave surface/node 100, 200, 4E6, 3E6, 5, 1.6, 0.005, 0.005, 0.01

6. Create Contact Interaction Property-Name the Property and And finally the input file is to be run in conjunction with the
select type as a Contact. UEL for performing required analysis through command as

Abaqus job=New_job_name input=input_file_name

7. Create the Contact property options as a Cohesive
user=UEL_file_name
Behavior, Damage and Geometric properties

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 National Conference for Engineering Post Graduates RIT NConPG - 15. ISBN-13:978-1512094169

4.Case Studies with Results and Discussions Bilinear Traction Separation curve is shown in the fig,The
damage initiation occurs when traction reaches the value of
I) Cohesive Element Modelling- 720 MPa, after this we get linear relationship for damage
evolution When Displacement value reaches 0.0522 there is
Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Rectangular plate using Cohesive a complete failure.
Elements
II) Cohesive Surface Modelling-

Debonding Behavior of Double Cantilever Beam by using

cohesive Interaction

Fig 9-Elastic-Plastic Analysis Contour plot of Vonmisses stress

Due to axisymmetric nature half part of the rectangular plate

is modeled with CPS4R elements 55 elements with COH2D
of zero thickness and imports it as a orphan mesh. Elastic
properties assigned to circular portion are E=3E7, ʋ=0.3, Fig 11-Debonding Behavior of DCB Contour plot of vonmisses stresses
and for rest of domain Elastic-Plastic material properties
with Elastic, E=198000, ʋ=0.3, and plastic as shown in table. The top and bottom parts of the DCB are modeled by using
The Nominal stress of 720 MPa is assigned for normal and CPE4 (Plain Strain) Elements with material property E=8E6,
shear direction for damage initiation, 0.522 mm ʋ=0.3, the cohesive interaction is created in between top &
displacement of failure is given at damage evolution. bottom parts. Right edge of assembly is constrained in U1,
U2 direction and displacement loading of 0.16 (upward) is
Yield Stress Plastic Strain applied at topmost left downward at lowermost left corner.
487 0
500 0.03
530 0.035
550 0.04
580 0.045
600 0.048
640 0.052
700 0.06
720 0.065

Table 1-Plastic Material property

To the lowermost edge Y symmetry boundary conditions

are applied, displacement load of 3 mm is applied at center
of circular portion.
Step-Static General, Max. no .of increments=10000,
initial=0.001, min=1e-5, max. =0.001
Fig 12-Force-Displacement curve
Force (RF2) vs. Displacement (U2) curve is linear at start
when the value of load 0.16 is achieved the debonding
occurs and force, displacement values decreases gradually
and separation of the surfaces takes place.

III) Cohesive zone modelling through UEL

Patch Test-Mixed Mode Analysis

A 2D Square plate of 0.1 x 0.1 m is modelled and

discretised by using bilinear Quadrilateral (Q4) elements
and cohesive elements are inserted at the bottom of the plate.
The plate is elongated by applying displacement loading of
0.03 mm at the top edge then it is compressed up to
displacement of 0.01 mm and is elongated again to
Fig 10-Traction-Separation curve
demonstrate the complete failure

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 National Conference for Engineering Post Graduates RIT NConPG - 15. ISBN-13:978-1512094169

The material properties assigned for the plate are Elastic
Modulus=32 GPa and Poisson’s ratio=0.3
when stress of 4 MPa reached at a displacement of 0.02e-3
mm and got the exponential stress-displacement curve.
Thus Cohesive zone model will be adopted to solve various
issues of failure at continuum level where theory of damage
and fracture mechanics can not be used.

References
Park Kyoungsoo and Paulino Glaucio H. (2012), “Computational
implementation of the PPR potential-based cohesive model in ABAQUS:
Educational perspective”, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 93, 239-262.
Volokh K. Y. (2004), Communications in Numerical Methods in
Engineering, 20,845
Paulino Glaucio H. and Park Kyoungsoo (2011),“ Cohesive Zone Models:
A Critical Review of Traction-Separation Relationships Across Fracture
Surfaces” Science-Direct, Applied mechanics Reviews, 64 / 060802,.01-19
Fig 13-Patch Test Contour Plot Von misses Stresses M.Elices, G.V.Guinea, Gomez, J.Planas,“The cohesive zone model-
advantages,limitations and challenges” Elsevier, Engineering Fracture
The fracture parameters given to cohesive elements are Mechanics, Vol.69, (2002) pp.137-163.
normal fracture energy=100N/m,tangential fracture Alfred Cornec , Ingo Scheider, Karl-Heinz Schwalbe “On the practical
energy=200 N/m ,normal cohesive strength=4 application of the cohesive model” Elsevier, Engineering Fracture
MPa,tangential cohesive strength=3 MPa ,normal shape Mechanics, Vol-70 (2003) pp.1963–1987
parameter=5,tangential shape parameter=1.6, normal initial Daniel W. Spring, Glaucio H. Paulino,“ A growing library of three-
slope indicator=0.005,tangential initial slope dimensional cohesive elements for use in ABAQUS” Science-Direct,
Engineering Fracture Mechanics,Vol. 10 / 1016 (2014) pp.01-15
indicator=0.005 ,thickness of cohesive element=0.01 along
out of plane direction ABAQUS 6.10,User subroutine Reference manual.
The contour plot of vonmisses stresses is given in the figure ABAQUS 6.10,Element Manual.
above and it is concluded that the stresses are maximum
http://www.mate.tue.nl/mate/pdfs/5169.pdf
along 450

Fig 14-Stress-Displacement curve for Patch Test

In Patch Test analysis we get Exponential Stress

Displacement curve with Damage Initiation
unloading/reloading,damage evolution and complete
failure.

5. Conclusion
By implementing the Coesive Zone model in the ABAQUS
software we have tested the Elastic Plastic analysis of
rectangular plate and got the bilinear Traction-Seperation
curve with maximum stress of 719.2 Mpa at leftmost corner
area of a plate.For debnding behavior of Double cantilever
beam after attaining a displacement load of 0.16 the
sepearation of the bottom and top faces of beam takes
place.In performing analysis of rectangular plate by placing
the linear cohesive element using UEL, the damage initiated

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