Hi all,

This is perhaps a basic question but I am new to XFEM analyses and am confused about the different XFEM analysis/material properties and how to find appropriate values, in particular the damage for traction separation laws and damage evolution.

To date, I have only performed LEFM analyses and have been using MaxPS as the damage for traction separation laws.For Damage Evolution, I have been using a value found on an online tutorial of displacement at failure as 1E-9 but I do not understand how this value is obtained.

I am soon to begin elastic-plastic XFEM analyses and so I presume that MaxPE would be the most appropriate damage law?

I have the following questions:

- What exactly is MaxPS and what is the relationship between it and the yield stress?

- What is the damage evolution and how is it defined / how can I find appropriate values?

- For elastic-plastic XFEM analysis, is MaxPE the most appropriate damage law?

- How does MaxPE relate to yield strain?

As I mentioned, I am new to XFEM analysis and so have very little understanding about the associated analysis/material properties, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks and kind regards

Ross