ABSTRACT
The cohesive zone model has found wide acceptance as a tool for the simulation of debonding in adhesively bonded joints. This model is commonly used for the simulation of the quasi-static fracture problems, especially in the case of cracks in bonded joints and delamination in composites. In Finite Element Method models, the material separation and thus damage and failure of the structure is described by interface elements. Using this technique, the behavior of the material is split in two parts, the damage -free continuum with a given material law and the cohesive interfaces between the continuum elements, where material damage is specified. Since the cohesive model is a phenomenological model, which can be used independently of the fracture mechanism, the two assumptions apply to different material behaviors. Fatigue fracture is one of the most occurring failure mode in engineering, where crack initiates, propagates, and finally results in the failure of components under cyclic loading.
