Numerical study of anisotropic failure in wood under large deformation

Brittle fracture mechanisms, characterizing wood behavior, are investigated numerically with the help of the smeared-crack approach combined with a multi-surface plasticity model. Numerical instabilities, accompanying the significant strain-softening behavior, are treated by using both a localization limiter and viscous regularization. In addition, extension of the model to large deformation conditions is proposed based on an objective stress rate using the rotation of wood fibers. Computations are carried out to predict the load carrying capacity and the post-cracking behavior of wood members under compression, bending and buckling, respectively. Competition between the multiple fracture processes is also analyzed from the simulation results.