A thermodynamically consistent phase-field framework for viscoelastic fatigue fracture with dissipated-energy-driven toughness degradation

Key Points

• Fatigue fracture occurs in viscoelastic materials with significant toughness degradation due to dissipated energy.
• This analysis reveals that energy dissipation is a key factor affecting material toughness over time.
• The phase-field framework effectively captures the thermodynamic behavior of viscoelastic materials during fracture.
• Implications include improving predictive models for material performance under cyclic loading, addressing real-world applications.