This work presents a regularized level-set approach to brittle fracture as an
alternative to the well-established phase-field model. In the proposed level-set
framework, fracture is treated as a two-dimensional phase transition problem. Two
level-set models are examined: the variational level-set model and the level-set
kinetics model. For the first model, we conduct an analytical study in the
one-dimensional case and demonstrate that it serves as a generalization of the
phase-field model under specific conditions. For the second model, we investigate the
driving force acting on the crack boundary and its relationship to the concept of
configurational force. A two-dimensional setting is developed, and several numerical
examples are presented to validate the model, showcasing its effectiveness
and flexibility. The influence of model parameters on the crack patterns
and the load-deflection curves of the computational sample is thoroughly
examined. The results demonstrate that the level-set approach is an efficient and
powerful tool for simulating brittle fracture and can be easily adapted to more
complex scenarios, enabling the capture of realistic behaviors in structural
applications.
