%0 journal article %@ 1877-7058 %A Scheider, I., Mosler, J. %D 2011 %J Procedia Engineering %P 2164-2169 %R doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.358 %T Novel approach for the treatment of cyclic loading using a potential-based cohesive zone model %U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.358 %X The development of cohesive zone models in the finite element framework dates back some 30 years, and cohesive interface elements are nowadays employed as a standard tool in scientific and engineering communities. They have been successfully applied to a broad variety of different materials and loading scenarios. However, many of such constitutive models are simply based on traction-separation relations without deducing them from energy potentials. By way of contrast, a thermodynamically consistent cohesive zone model suitable for the analysis of low cycle fatigue is elaborated in the present contribution. For that purpose, a plasticity-based cohesive law including isotropic hardening/softening is supplemented by a damage model. First results of this new approach to cyclic loading will be presented illustrating the applicability to low cycle fatigue.