A Continuum Model for Material Separation Theory and Computation

In this dissertation an overview of the fracture mechanics field and cohesive zone models is first provided. Discussion continues with a description of a new fracture mechanics model, the Continuum Geometric-Decohesion Model. Analytical and numerical results for an explanatory example problem are then explored in detail. A brief overview of the Finite Element Method and a related new numerical approximation method called the Partitioned Element Method is given. Next a convex subdivision algorithm (titled Half-Space Traversal Convex Subdivision) to be used with the Partitioned Element Method is explained in detail. Finally, potential avenues of research are discussed with relation to the Continuum Geometric-Decohesion Model and the Partitioned Element Method.