Γ-Limits of convolution functionals

We compute the Γ-limit of a sequence of non-local integral functionals depending on a regularization of the gradient term by means of a convolution kernel. In particular, as Γ-limit, we obtain free discontinuity functionals with linear growth and with anisotropic surface energy density

Eigendamage: an Eigendeformation model for the variational approximation of cohesive fracture -- a one-dimensional case study

We study an approximation scheme for a variational theory of cohesive fracture in a one-dimensional setting. Here, the energy functional is approximated by a family of functionals depending on a small parameter $0 < \varepsilon \ll 1$ and on two fields: the elastic part of the displacement field and an eigendeformation field that describes the inelastic response of the material beyond the elastic regime. We measure the inelastic contributions of the latter in terms of a non-local energy functional. Our main result shows that, as $\varepsilon \to 0$, the approximate functionals $\Gamma$-converge to a cohesive zone model.Comment: Comments are welcome