Nonlinear dynamic fracture problems with polynomial and strain-limiting constitutive relations

Abstract: We extend the framework of dynamic fracture problems with a phase-field approximation to the case of a nonlinear constitutive relation between the Cauchy stress tensor $ \mathbb{T} $, linearised strain $ \boldsymbol{\epsilon}(\mathbf{u}) $ and strain rate $ \boldsymbol{\epsilon}(\mathbf{u}_t ) $. The relationship takes the form $ \boldsymbol{\epsilon}(\mathbf{u}_t) + \alpha\boldsymbol{\epsilon}(\mathbf{u}) = F(\mathbb{T}) $ where $ F $ satisfies certain $p$-growth conditions. We take particular care to study the case $p=1$ of a `strain-limiting' solid, that is, one in which the strain is bounded {\it a priori}. We prove the existence of long-time, large-data weak solutions of a balance law coupled with a minimisation problem for the phase-field function and an energy-dissipation inequality, in any number $ d$ of spatial dimensions. In the case of Dirichlet boundary conditions, we also prove the satisfaction of an energy-dissipation equality.