gcrack 2026.6.9

Solver for Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics problems

gcrack

gcrack is a simulation tool designed to model crack propagation in anisotropic media. It is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics, specifically the GMERR (Generalized Maximum Energy Release Rate) criterion, to simulate incremental crack propagation with remeshing.

Features

• Incremental Propagation: Simulates crack growth step-by-step, with an explicit remeshing of the crack.
• Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics: Utilizes GMERR for determine the direction of crack propagation.
• Anisotropic Media Simulation: Accurately models crack propagation in materials with directionally dependent properties.

Installation

To install gcrack, follow these steps:

1. Create and activate a new conda environment:

   conda create -n gcrack
   conda activate gcrack
   

2. Install the required dependencies:

   conda install -c conda-forge numpy sympy mpich python-gmsh fenics-dolfinx pyvista jax jaxlib=*=*cpu*
   

3. Install gcrack:

   pip install .       # If you cloned the repo
   pip install gcrack  # If you want to install from pypi
   

How to Use

Examples are provided in the gcrack/examples/ directory. Each example typically includes:

• run.py: Contains the problem definition and simulation setup.
• display_results.py: Script to visualize the simulation results.
• Makefile: Automates the simulation process.

To run a simulation, follow these steps:

1. Activate the conda environment:

   conda activate gcrack
   

2. Navigate to the example directory and run the simulation:

   cd gcrack/examples/example_name
   make simulation