NEWFRAC is the first coordinated initiative in EU aiming at the systematic progress in the failure prediction in heterogeneous systems through a novel computational framework by integrating Finite Fracture Mechanics and Phase Field modelling strategies.

The potential impact of this modelling and simulation framework in the design of heterogenous materials and structures can be enormous, for instance, in a weight reduction of about 10% with respect to the current design concepts, increasing the ratios of strength/weight and stiffness/weight.