Abstract
The objective of this contribution is to investigate the role of generalized interfaces in the overall response of particulate composites and the associated size effects. Throughout this work, the effective properties of composites are obtained via three-dimensional computational simulations using the interface-enhanced finite element method for a broad range of parameters. The term interface corresponds to a zero-thickness model representing the interphase region between the constituents and accounting for the interfaces at the micro-scale introduces a physical length-scale to the effective behavior of composites, unlike the classical first-order homogenization that is missing a length-scale. The interface model here is general in the sense that both traction and displacement jumps across the interface are admissible recovering both the cohesive and elastic interface models. Via a comprehensive computational study, we identify extraordinary and uncommon characteristics of particle reinforced composites endowed with interfaces. Notably, we introduce the notion of critical size at which the overall behavior, somewhat surprisingly, shows no sensitivity with respect to the inclusion-to-matrix stiffness ratio. Our study, provides significant insight towards computational design of composites accounting for interfaces and in particular, nano-composites.
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