Multi-Scale Approach for Nonhomogeneous Microstructural Effects on Damage in Particulate Composites

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of random and non-uniform particle distributions on the damage initiation and growth in particulate composites. Numerical specimens with either no crack or an existing crack were examined. For the cases with no crack, the effect of sizes of the representative area for non-uniform particle volume fractions was studied on the overall stress-strain curves and the results were compared with that of the specimen with uniform particle volume fractions. Other studies considered cracked specimens, either single edge crack or a center crack. The global-local approach was used along with multi-scale technique. The global analysis determined the deformations around the crack tip. Then, the local analysis evaluated the damage progress at the crack tip using the solution of the global analysis as boundary conditions. The results showed non-uniformed particle volume fractions in particulate composites caused the crack growth at lower applied loads than the uniform particle volume fraction. Statistical data were also plotted for the non-uniform particle volume fraction cases.