In the past two decades numerous numerical procedures for crack propagation have been developed. Lately,
enrichment methods (either local, such as SDA or global, such as XFEM) have been applied with success to simple
problems, typically involving some intersections. For arbitrary finite strain propagation, numerous difficulties are
encountered: modeling of intersection and coalescence, step size dependence and the presence of distorted finite
elements. In order to overcome these difficulties, an approach fully capable of dealing with multiple advancing
cracks and self-contact is presented (see Fig.1). This approach makes use of a coupled Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian
method (ALE) and local tip remeshing. This is substantially less costly than a full remeshing while retaining its full
versatility. Compared to full remeshing, angle measures and crack paths are superior. A consistent continuationbased
linear control is used to force the critical tip to be exactly critical, while moving around the candidate set.
The critical crack front is identified and propagated when one of the following criteria reaches a material limiting
value: (i) the stress intensity factor; or (ii) the element-ahead tip stress. These are the control equations.
The ability to solve crack intersection and coalescence problems is shown. Additionally, the independence from
crack tip and step size and the absence of blade and dagger-shaped finite elements is observed. Classic benchmarks
are computed leading to excellent crack path and load-deflection results, where convergence rate is quadratic
