Multi-scale finite element analysis of porous materials and components by asymptotic homogenization theory and enhanced mesh superposition method

Abstract

To analyse the macroscopic and microscopic behaviours of heterogeneous materials and components, a multi-scale computational method is studied. Although asymptotic homogenization theory has been the main tool during the last decade to solve various multi-scale problems, the assumption of the periodicity of the microscopic unit cell and the incapability of considering the scale effect have resulted in the limitations to this theory's applications. These problems should be overcome because advanced materials are often used as joint or laminated components and the interface crack problem must be analysed. For this sake, a novel multi-scale finite element method is proposed that uses the enhanced mesh superposition method together with the asymptotic homogenization theory. The finite element mesh superposition method uses the global mesh and the local mesh that is superimposed arbitrarily onto the global mesh. The enhanced method allows the adoption of different constitutive laws for the two meshes. The advantage of the homogenization theory to predict the homogenized material model accurately based on the complex microstructure is still utilized. The homogenized material model is used for the global mesh, whilst the microscopic heterogeneity and the crack are considered in the local mesh with the material properties of the constituents. The formulation, modelling strategy, implementation and numerical accuracy of the proposed method is described. A porous ceramic is studied in the numerical example.