Cohesive Zone Models

Cohesive Zone Models are used in engineering to simulate how materials break or crack under stress. They represent the process zone at a crack tip, where particles or fibers gradually separate instead of snapping all at once. By modeling this gradual separation, these models help predict when and how materials will fail, improving safety and design. Think of it like a bridge crack slowly widening, allowing engineers to understand and prevent catastrophic failure by analyzing the behavior just before complete separation occurs.