Statistical damage theory of 2D lattices: Energetics and physical foundations of damage parameter

The paper presents an in-depth analysis of two-dimensional disordered lattices of statistical damage mechanics for the study of quasi-brittle materials. The strain energy variation in correspondence to damage formation is thoroughly examined and all the different contributions to the net energy changes are identified and analyzed separately. We demonstrate that the introduction of a new defect in the microstructure produces a perturbation of the microscopic random fields according to a principle of maximum energy dissipation. A redistribution parameter η is introduced to measure the load redistribution capability of the microstructure. This parameter can be estimated from simulation data of detailed models. This energetic framework sets the stage for the investigation of the statistical foundations of the damage parameter as well as the damage localization. Logical statistical arguments are developed to derive two analytical models (a maximum field model and a mean field one) for the estimate of the damage parameter via a bottom-up approach that relates the applied load to the microstructural disorder. Simulation data provided input to the statistical models as well as the means of validation. Simulated tensile tests of honeycomb lattices with mechanical disorder demonstrate that long-range interactions amongst sets of microcracks with different orientations play a fundamental role already in damage nucleation as well as in the homogeneous–heterogeneous transition. A functional “hierarchy of sets” of grain boundaries, based on their orientation in relation to the applied load, seems to emerge from this study. Results put in evidence the ability of discrete models of capturing seamlessly the damage anisotropy. The ideas exposed inhere should be useful to develop a full rational model for disordered lattices and, later, to extend the approach to discrete models with solid elements. The findings suggest that statistical damage mechanics might aid in the quest of reliable and physically sound constitutive relations of damage, even in synergy with micromechanics.     

准脆性材料的弹塑性各向异性损伤耦合本构模型研究

针对准脆性材料的非线性特征：强度软化和刚度退化、单边效应、侧限强化和拉压软化、不可恢复变形、剪胀及非弹性体胀,在热动力学框架内,建立了准脆性材料的弹塑性与各向异性损伤耦合的本构关系。对准脆性材料的变形机理和损伤诱发的各向异性进行了诠释,并给出了损伤构形和有效构形中各物理量之间的关系。在有效应力空间内,建立了塑性屈服准则、拉压不同的塑性随动强化法则和各向同性强化法则。在损伤构形中,采用应变能释放率,建立了拉压损伤准则、拉压不同的损伤随动强化法则和各向同性强化法则。基于塑性屈服准则和损伤准则,构建了塑性势泛函和损伤势泛函,并由正交性法则,给出了塑性和损伤强化效应内变量的演化规律,同时,联立塑性屈服面和损伤加载面,给出了塑性流动和损伤演化内变量的演化法则。将损伤力学和塑性力学结合起来,建立了应变驱动的应力-应变增量本构关系,给出了本构数值积分的要点。以单轴加载-卸载往复试验识别和校准了本构材料常数,并对单轴单调试验、单轴加载-卸载往复试验、二轴受压、二轴拉压试验和三轴受压试验进行了预测,并与试验结果作了比较,结果表明,所建本构模型对准脆性材料的非线性材料性能有良好的预测能力。     

A continuum damage model for piezoelectric materials

In this paper, a constitutive model is proposed for piezoelectric material solids containing distributed cracks. The model is formulated in a framework of continuum damage mechanics using second rank tensors as internal variables. The Helrnhotlz free energy of piezoelectric mate- rials with damage is then expressed as a polynomial including the transformed strains, the electric field vector and the tensorial damage variables by using the integrity bases restricted by the initial orthotropic symmetry of the material. By using the Talreja＇s tensor valued internal state damage variables as well as the Helrnhotlz free energy of the piezoelectric material, the constitutive relations of piezoelectric materials with damage are derived. The model is applied to a special case of piezoelectric plate with transverse matrix cracks. With the Kirchhoff hypothesis of plate, the free vibration equations of the piezoelectric rectangular plate considering damage is established. By using Galerkin method, the equations are solved. Numerical results show the effect of the damage on the free vibration of the piezoelectric plate under the close-circuit condition, and the present results are compared with those of the three-dimensional theory.     

Load-induced oriented damage and anisotropy of rock-like materials

Theoretical model for deformability of brittle rock-like materials in the presence of an oriented damage of their internal structure is formulated and verified experimentally. This model is based on the assumption that non-linearity of the stress–strain curves of these materials is a result of irreversible process of oriented damage growth. It was also assumed that a material response, represented by the strain tensor, is a function of two tensorial variables: the stress tensor and the damage effect tensor that is responsible for the current state of the internal structure of the material. The explicit form of the respective non-linear stress–strain relations that account for the appropriate damage evolution equation was obtained by employing the theory of tensor function representations and by using the results of own experiments on damage growth. Such an oriented damage that grows in the material, described by the second order symmetric damage effect tensor, results in gradual development of the material anisotropy. The validity of the constitutive equations proposed was verified by using the available experimental results for concrete subjected to the plane state of stress. The relevant experimental data for sandstone and concrete subjected to tri-axial state of stress were also used.     

A fracture damage model for Jointed rock masses and its application to the stability analysis of dam abutments

Based on continuum damage mechanics, for jointed rock masses, a fracture damage model is presented in this paper. First, the damage tensors are defined through the elastic-flexibility of intact rock and the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility for rock mass. Then, by the self-consistent principle of solid mechanics, the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility tensors involving the interaction between multicracks are deduced. The damage evolution law is proposed involving the mechanism of crack propagation process: frictional sliding, crack kinking, growing of branched tension cracks, interlinking of the microcracks near branched crack tips leading to the breakthrough of macro-cracks and finally the failure of rock mass. Thus the evolution of damage variables reasonably unified with the process of crack propagation is given. Finally, a plastic-brittle damage constitutive relation including brittle coupled strain rate, developed and applied to the stability analysis of complicated rock foundation of a dam in China, is described in this paper.     

A crack-mechanics based model for damage and plasticity of brittle materials under dynamic loading

A rate-dependent model for damage and plastic deformation of brittle materials under dynamic loading is presented. The model improves upon a recently developed micromechanical damage model (Zuo et al., 2006) by incorporating plastic deformation of the material. The distribution of the microcracks in the material is assumed to remain isotropic, and the damage evolution is through the growth of the average crack size. Plasticity is considered through an additive decomposition of the total strain rate, and a rate-independent, von Mises model is used. The model was applied to simulate the response of a model material (SiC) under uniaxial strain loading. To further examine the behavior of the model, cyclic loading and large-strain compressive loading were considered. Numerical results of the model predictions are presented, and comparisons with those from a previous model are provided.     

Numerical simulation of plastic deformation and damage accumulation in structural materials under various low-cycle loading conditions

This paper presents the results of a finite-element study of elastic-plastic deformation and damage accumulation in structural materials under various cyclic loading conditions. Material behavior is described by the relations of damage mechanics using thermoplastic model which takes into account the plastic deformation of material under cyclic loading and the kinetic equations of the energy theory of damage accumulation. The basic laws of plastic deformation and development of damage in materials under hard, soft, symmetric, and asymmetric low-cycle loading are established.     

热力学相容的混凝土各向异性单边损伤模型

微裂缝演化(损伤)引起的各向异性和单边效应,对于混凝土材料和结构的变形和内力有非常重要的影响. 在描述单边效应时,已有的各向异性损伤模型均会得出与热力学基本原理相矛盾的结论即损伤卸载时能量耗散不为零. 基于不可逆热力学和内变量理论,直接以材料柔度张量的增量作为损伤内变量,建立了各向异性单边损伤模型的一般形式,给出了热力学相容的投影算子,推导了模型的率本构关系.文中详细发展了模型的Newton-Raphson数值实现算法及其算法一致性模量,建立了合理的损伤准则和演化法则并应用于混凝土材料. 数值模拟结果初步验证了建议模型的有效性. 需要说明的是,模型完全构筑于热力学基础上,无需引入应变 等效或应变能等效等经验性假定.      

Nonlocal damage model using the phase field method: Theory and applications

A new nonlocal, gradient based damage model is proposed for isotropic elastic damage using the phase field method in order to show the evolution of damage in brittle materials. The general framework of the phase field model (PFM) is discussed and the order parameter is related to the damage variable in continuum damage mechanics (CDM). The time dependent Ginzburg–Landau equation which is also termed the Allen–Cahn equation is used to describe the damage evolution process. Specific length scale which addresses the interface region in which the process of changing undamaged solid to fully damaged material (microcracks) occurs is defined in order to capture the effect of the damaged localization zone. A new implicit damage variable is proposed through the phase field theory. Details of the different aspects and regularization capabilities are illustrated by means of numerical examples and the validity and usefulness of the phase field modeling approach is demonstrated.     

On the dissipative zone in anisotropic damage models for concrete

This paper presents a three-dimensional model to simulate the behavior of plain concrete structures that are predominantly tensile loaded. This model, based on continuum damage mechanics, uses a symmetric second-order tensor as the damage variable, which permits the simulation of orthotropic degradation. The validity of the first and the second law of thermodynamics, as well as the validity of the principle of maximum dissipation rate, are required. That is attained by defining the loading functions in quantities that are thermodynamically conjugated to the damage variables. Furthermore, the evolution rule is derived by maximizing the energy dissipation rate. This formulation is regularized by means of the fracture energy approach by introducing a characteristic length. The basic and new idea in this paper is that the characteristic length should always coincide with the width of the dissipative zone appearing in the simulation. The integration points with increasing damage in one loading increment are the dissipative zone in this loading increment. The main objective of this paper is the convenient formulation of approaches for the characteristic length in order to attain the coincidence of the characteristic length with the width of the dissipative zone appearing in the simulation. It is shown that simulations are objective and yield good results if the requirement is fulfilled that the characteristic length in the constitutive law coincides with the width of the dissipative zone in the simulation.     

Micromechanical analysis of damage in saturated quasi brittle materials

In this paper, we propose a micromechanical analysis of damage and related inelastic deformation in saturated porous quasi brittle materials. The materials are weakened by randomly distributed microcracks and saturated by interstitial fluid with drained and undrained conditions. The emphasis is put on the closed cracks under compression-dominated stresses. The material damage is related to the frictional sliding on crack surface and described by a local scalar variable. The effective properties of the materials are determined using a linear homogenization approach, based on the extension of Eshelby’s inclusion solution to penny shaped cracks. The inelastic behavior induced by microcracks is described in the framework of the irreversible thermodynamics. As an original contribution, the potential energy of the saturated materials weakened by closed frictional microcracks is determined and formulated as a sum of an elastic part and a plastic part, the latter entirely induced by frictional sliding of microcracks. The influence of fluid pressure is accounted for in the friction criterion through the concept of local effective stress at microcracks. We show that the Biot’s effective stress controls the evolution of total strain while the local Terzaghi’s effective stress controls the evolution of plastic strain. Further, the frictional sliding between crack lips generates volumetric dilatancy and reduction in fluid pressure. Applications of the proposed model to typical brittle rocks are presented with comparisons between numerical results and experimental data in both drained and undrained triaxial tests.     

A double inclusion model for microcrack arrest in fibre reinforced brittle materials

A model for the prediction of microcrack growth in a fibre reinforced brittle matrix composite material is suggested. The model is based on composite material theory and linear elastic fracture mechanics. The microcracks in question are so-called large microcracks, i.e. microcracks which are bridged by the reinforcing fibres. The crack bridging fibres are “smeared” out to form a homogeneous medium. This homogeneous medium constitutes together with the matrix crack an ellipsoidal so-called “double inclusion.” Matrix cracking as well as interfacial debonding can be analysed and this analysis can be synthesized and interpreted as a determination of the strength of the reinforced matrix. The model is compared with some experimental results, and good agreement is found. The model can serve as a tool for the design of brittle matrix composite materials because it identifies the significance of fibre geometry, volume fraction of fibres, and adhesion between fibres and matrix.     

An augmented multicrack elastoplastic damage model for tensile cracking

In this paper we present the general formulation and numerical aspects of an augmented multicrack elastoplastic damage model aiming to reflect the crack induced anisotropy in concrete like quasi-brittle materials. Consistent evolution laws for the involved internal variables are derived based on the augmented Lagrangian method. The (time) discrete formulation and the corresponding variational structure are investigated, with the Euler–Lagrangian equations defining the closest-point projection approximation of the proposed model. The numerical aspects, such as the stress updating algorithm and the algorithmic consistent tangent moduli, are also discussed in details. It is found that in the developed numerical algorithm the active loading surfaces are determined in such a posterior manner that potential numerical problems due to the iteratively updating procedure in classical algorithms can be avoided. The proposed model is applied to the modeling of tensile cracking in concrete. The behavior of a single crack is characterized by an elliptical cracking surface and a hyperbolic softening function, with the orientations of potential cracks determined by Mohr’s postulate. The model is verified by calculating the single point stress vs. strain relations of concrete under several typical proportional and non-proportional loading cases. Finally, two benchmark tests of concrete structures, i.e. four-point bending beam under cyclic loading (Hordijk, 1992) and double edge notched specimens under mixed tension/shear forces (Nooru-Mohamed, 1992), are numerically simulated. Both predicted load vs. displacement curves and crack patterns agree well with the experimental data.     

A constitutive model dealing with damage due to cavity growth and the Mullins effect in rubber-like materials under triaxial loading

In this work, we attempted to describe the evolution of damage in rubber-like materials due to the Mullins effect and the cavity growth process. To this end we introduced two distinct internal variables into the constitutive laws; the first one essentially describes the Mullins damage and the second describes the cavity growth. The Mullins effect was considered as a continuous type of damage that can be modelled within the continuum damage theory. The cavity growth, being discontinuous at the microscopic scale, was also modelled by a continuous variable after a homogenization procedure. These analyses allow the establishment of a compressible constitutive law describing the strain-softening phenomena for rubber-like materials. In order to identify the material parameters and to verify the efficiency of the model, we carried out experimental studies involving uniaxial, biaxial, and hydrostatic tensions under monotonic and cyclic loading. Comparison between the model-predicted results and the experimental data shows that the present model can efficiently describe both the Mullins damage and the porosity evolution of rubber-like materials under triaxial monotonic or cyclic loading with a satisfactory accuracy. The proposed concept is simple and easy to apply to engineering calculations.     

NDE of metal damage: ultrasonics with a damage mechanics model

This research describes a nondestructive method for the quantitative estimation of property variations due to damage in metal materials. The method employs a damage mechanics model, which accounts for stiffness degradation and damage evolution of a metal medium with a measurement of ultrasonic velocity. In order to describe the progressive deterioration of materials prior to the initiation of macrocracks, we have developed a new damage mechanics model. Thereafter, a finite element model valid for numerically describing such damage process has been developed by ABAQUS/Standard code, and correlations between damage state, elastic stiffness and plastic strain could be found by the results of the finite element simulation. The property variations due to damage evolution are calculated based on the Mori–Tanaka theory, and then the ultrasonic velocity can be predicted by Christoffel’s equation. When the measured velocity is coupled with the theoretically predicted velocity, the unknown damage variable is solved, from which other residual properties are determined by the predictions of damage model. The proposed technique is performed on type 304 stainless steel bars. The numerical results obtained by the simulation were compared with experimental ones in order to verify the validity of the proposed finite element model and good agreement was found. It is shown that the damaged properties of metals can be estimated accurately by the proposed method.     

Mean stress dependent nonlinear hyperelasticity coupled with damage stiffness degradation. A thermodynamical approach

Porous materials, such as geomaterials, exhibit a behaviour dependent on the confining pressure. The aim of this paper is to study the degradation of the elastic stiffness of mean stress dependent materials, due to the deterioration of the microstructure during loading.Continuum damage mechanics offers a framework to model this rigidity deterioration. In addition to the concept of effective stress, a choice has to be made between two widely used hypotheses, the principle of strain equivalence and the principle of equivalent elastic energy, in order to build a complete modelling framework.A mean stress dependent hyperelastic formulation is used to ensure a conservative behaviour, and associated to the two previous damage modelling assumptions, whose effects are compared. This allows for mean stress dependent elasticity to be reproduced, with elastic moduli increasing with mean stress while decreasing with damage.