We propose a study of the damage at an interface which is coupled to an elastic homogeneous block. We use two interface representations based on a continuous approach for the first one, and on a discrete approach for the second…
We propose a study of the damage at an interface which is coupled to an elastic homogeneous block. We use two interface representations based on a continuous approach for the first one, and on a discrete approach for the second one. The elastic block is represented by a hierarchical structure, which allows to have a realistic elastic interac- tion along the interface. After a brief recall on a tool which allows to consider the "bifurcation" modes in a discrete model in the same way as for a continuous one, we show that the localisation in the interface occurs through a cascade of bifurcations, which progressively concen- trates damage from the entire interface to a narrow region. For the discrete approach, i.e. when random heterogeneities are introduced, the localisation proceeds by a sequence of avalanches. In both cases, the analysis of size effects is also obtained.