• Paras Kumar, Institute of Applied Mechanicsand Central Institute for Scientific Computing, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nü
• Dhananjay Phansalkar, Institute of Applied Dynamicsand Central Institute for Scientific Computing, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nü
• Julia Mergheim, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
• Sigrid Leyendecker, Institute of Applied Dynamics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
• Paul Steinmann, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

Compositional heterogeneity, resulting in fascinating fracture-resistant behavior, is a distinctive trait observed in numerous materials we come across in our daily life. These range from biological materials such as bones to highly customized nano-composites employed in extreme engineering applications.

In line with this principle theme, this mini-symposium aims at providing a platform to discuss the recent advances in and upcoming challenges behind diverse, continuum-based numerical fracture modeling in heterogeneous materials. Consequently, the modeling techniques of interest in this mini-symposium are not limited to the classical discrete crack modeling approaches, such as those based on extended/generalized finite elements (XFEM/GFEM), cohesive zone methods, amongst others. Equal emphasis is placed upon smeared approaches, such as those based on the recently popular phase-field methods for modeling crack propagation. Another critical aspect of modeling failure in heterogeneous materials is the interplay between length scales, thereby necessitating the development of upscaling procedures for transferring micro-scale effects onto macro-scale crack propagation behavior.

Although the primary focus of the mini-symposium is on computational techniques, contributions encompassing theoretical and experimental methods are also welcome.