A matrix-free, differentiable PyTorch solver for phase-field fracture: Formulation, benchmarks, and inverse analysis (opens in new tab)

A matrix-free, open-source PyTorch solver is presented for phase-field fracture on central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) without custom compiled extensions. In the explicit dynamic pathway, finite-element operations are formulated as element-wise tensor contractions with scatter-based accumulation, removing global sparse mechanics-stiffness assembly from the core time-stepping loop. Both Ambrosio-Tortorelli regular...