A coupled phase field formulation for modelling fatigue cracking in lithium-ion battery electrode particles

Electrode particle cracking is one of the main phenomena driving battery capacity degradation. Recent phase field fracture studies have investigated behaviour. However, only beginning life has been considered and effects such as damage accumulation neglected. Here, a multi-physics fatigue model developed to study crack propagation in electrode particles undergoing hundreds cycles. In addition, we couple our electrochemo-mechanical formulation with X-ray CT imaging simulate realistic microstructures. Using this modelling framework, non-linear behaviour predicted, leading observation an exponential increase cracked area cycle number. Three stages growth (slow, accelerating unstable) are observed, initialisation at concave regions coalescence having significant contribution resulting rates. The critical values C-rate, size initial length determined, found be lower than those reported literature using static models. Therefore, work demonstrates importance considering degradation models provides insights on control alleviate