The potential for simulating
fracture processes using lattice networks remains largely unrealized
due to the computational expense associated with such approaches.
The range of specimen sizes and mesh densities that can be practically
explored is quite limited. This paper shows that, for localized
fracture processes, both computing time and storage requirements
can be greatly reduced by modeling only the fracture process zone
and its immediate vicinity with a lattice network. The material
surrounding the lattice network is represented using boundary
element domains that are homogeneous and linear elastic. The model
layout is updated as the fracture process evolves; updates are
guided by a conventional fuzzy control scheme. Effectiveness of
the procedure is shown through examples involving concrete fracture.