Abstract
The response of quasi-brittle materials is greatly influenced by their microstructural architecture and variations. To model such statistical variability, Statistical Volume Elements (SVEs) are 'used to derive a scalar fracture strength for domains populated with microcracks. By employing the moving window approach the probability density function and covariance function of the scalar fracture strength field are obtained. The Karhunen-Loeve method is used to generate realizations of fracture strength that are consistent with the SVE-derived statistics. The effect of homogenization scheme, through the size of SVE, on fracture pattern is studied by using an asynchronous spacetime discontinuous Galerkin (aSDG) finite element method, where cracks are exactly tracked by the method's adaptive operations.