The project will examine the predictive value of dynamic failure computations when progressive degradation of the structural properties takes place due to elastic damage and softening. Dynamic stability predictions require on one hand robust solution strategies which survive material instabilities in the small region when localized failure mechanisms remain confined. On the other hand, the underlying mathematical model and its computational implementation must be sufficiently sensitive to capture progressive failure and to control its propagation in a realistic manner. To this end, different failure indicators will be implemented for tracing dynamic instabilities and for monitoring dynamic failure calculations within explicit and implicit solution strategies. The principal objective is the development of an adaptive solution method based on Lyapunov stability indicators which capture bifurcations both in the space and in the time domain. The novel methodology will be illustrated with realistic structural problems which exhibit degrading stiffness and strength properties due to damage and softening behavior on the material level.
