Computation of the effective nonlinear material behaviour of composites using X-FEM - Analysis of the matrix material behaviour

For a consequent lightweight design the consideration of the nonlinear macroscopic material behaviour of composites, which is amongst others driven by damage and strain–rate effects on the mesoscale, is required. Therefore, the modelling approach using numerical homogenization techniques based on the simulation of representative volume elements which are modelled by the extended finite element method (X–FEM) is currently extended to nonlinear material behaviour. While the glass fibres are assumed to remain linear elastic, a viscoplastic constitutive law accounts for strain–rate dependence and inelastic deformation of the matrix material. This paper describes the process of finding suitable constitutive relations for the polymeric matrix material Polypropylene in the small–strain regime. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of the nonlinear matrix material behaviour on the effective properties of textile-reinforced thermoplastics

For a consistent lightweight design the consideration of the nonlinear macroscopic material behaviour of composites, which is amongst others driven by damage and strain-rate effects on the mesoscale, is required. Therefore, a modelling approach using numerical homogenization techniques is applied to predict the effective nonlinear material behaviour of the composite based on the finite element simulation of a representative volume element (RVE). In this RVE suitable constitutive relations account for the material behaviour of each constituents. While the reinforcing glass fibres are assumed to remain linear elastic, a viscoplastic constitutive law is applied to represent the strain-rate dependent, inelastic deformation of the matrix material. In order to analyse the influence of the nonlinear matrix material behaviour on the global mechanical response of the composite, effective stress-strain-curves are computed for different load cases and compared to experimental observations. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Micromechanical material models for polymer composites through advanced numerical simulation techniques

The paper deals with the determination of macroscopic material properties of polymer composites by meso-mechanical numerical modeling. Focus is laid on the methodology how to build up appropriate representative volume elements (RVE) to describe the microstructure of spherical-particles and fibers reinforced composites and how to apply appropriate 3D boundary conditions. The work includes the comparison of the effective material parameters calculated through numerical homogenization of our FE-models with existing analytical formulations as well as with experimental data. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On physics-based crystal plasticity models: Application to virtual material testing of sheet metals

It is possible to pursue a multi-scale modeling approach for sheet forming simulations by applying the concept of virtual material testing to determine the yield surface from the microstructure of a given material. Full-field simulations with phenomenological crystal plasticity models are widely used for this kind of investigations. However, recent developments focus on incorporating physical quantities like dislocation density into these models. In this work, a dislocation density based crystal plasticity model is used to investigate the plastic anisotropy of the deep drawing steel DC04. In particular, we focus on the prediction of R-values, which can be used to calibrate macroscopic plasticity models. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A material model of nonlinear fractional viscoelasticity

Multiscale methods are frequently used in the design process of textile reinforced composites. In addition to the models for the local material structure it is necessary to formulate appropriate material models for the constituents. While experiments have shown that the reinforcing fibers can be assumed as linear elastic, the material behavior of the polymer matrix shows certain nonlinearities. These effects are mainly due to strain rate dependent material behavior. Fractional order models have been found to be appropriate to model this behavior. Based on experimental observations of Polypropylene a one-dimensional nonlinear fractional viscoelastic material model has been formulated. Its parameters can be determined from uniaxial, monotonic tensile tests at different strain rates, relaxation experiments and deformation controlled processes with intermediate holding times at different load levels. The presence of a process dependent function for the viscosity leads to constitutive equations which form nonlinear fractional differential equations. Since no analytical solution can be derived for these equations, a numerical handling has been developed. After all, the stress-strain curves obtained from a numerical analysis are compared to experimental results. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Shakedown analysis of periodic composites with kinematic hardening material model

Lower-bound limit and shakedown analysis of periodic composites with the consideration of kinematic hardening are carried out on the representative volume element level. In combination with homogenization theory, the homogenized macroscopic admissible loading domains are determined. Furthermore, the strengths of periodic composites by using elastic perfectly plastic, unlimited and linear limited kinematic hardening material models are calculated and compared. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Multiscale modeling of continuous fiber and fabric reinforced rubber components

Fabric or continuous fiber reinforced rubber components (e.g. tires, air springs, industrial hoses, conveyor belts or membranes) are underlying high deformations in application and show a complex, nonlinear material behavior. A particular challenge depicts the simulation of these composites. In this contribution we show the identification of the stress and strain distributions by using an uncoupled multiscale modeling method, see [1]. Within this method, two representation levels are described: One, the meso level, where all constituents of the composite are shown in a discrete manner by a representative volume element (RVE) and secondly, the macro level, where the structural behavior of the component is defined by a smeared anisotropic hyperelastic constitutive law. Uncoupled means that the RVE does not drive the macroscopic material behavior directly as in a coupled approach, where a RVE boundary value problem has to be solved at every integration point of the macro level. Thus an uncoupled approach leads to a tremendous reduction in numerical effort because the boundary value problem of a RVE just has to be solved at a point of interest, see [1]. However, the uncoupled scale transition has to fulfill the HILL–MANDEL condition of energetic equivalence of both scales. We show the calibration of material parameters for a given constitutive model for fiber reinforced rubber by fitting experimental data on the macro level. Additionally, we demonstrate the determination of effective properties of the yarns. Finally, we compare the energies of both scales in terms of compliance with the HILL–MANDEL condition by using the example of a biaxial loaded sample and discuss the consequences for the mesoscopic level. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Room- and Low-Temperature Deformation of Multilayered Fiberglass Plastics Reinforced with a Fabric of Sateen Weave

The regularities of elastic deformation of multilayered fiberglass plastics reinforced with a fabric of sateen weave are studied. The effect of cooling to 77 K on the averaged elastic characteristics of the orthotropic material is analyzed. The efficiency of mathematical modeling in calculating the stiffness and compliance parameters of the woven composites based on the geometry and mechanical properties of their constituents is investigated.     

Obtaining Cosserat material parameters by homogenization of a Cauchy continuum

An increasing importance of composites with sandwich architecture and fibre-reinforced components is recognizable especially in aerospace and light weight industry. Due to the inner structure such materials often exhibit a complex behavior. If the ratio of micro- and macroscopic length scales, l and L, violates the condition l/L ≪ 1, a higher order continuum should be used to describe the macroscopic material behavior correctly. The numerical simulation requires reliable material constants, for which the experimental determination is laborious and sometimes impossible. Alternatively homogenization methods can be used for the numerical identification of overall material parameters. A short introduction to the linear Cosserat theory is followed by an extended homogenization procedure to derive the macroscopic material constants of a linear Cosserat continuum. The parameters obtained with a heterogeneous cell are used to simulate different bending load cases. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A Hybrid Micro­Macro­Model for the Description of Evolving Anisotropy in Finite Polycrystal Plasticity

The paper outlines recent developments of an efficient computational micro-macro modeling of evolving anisotropies in metallic polycrystals. Main focus is put onto large strain deformation processes where the anisotropy is caused by developments of crystallographic texture. We construct a hybrid micro-macro framework that mixes ingredients of a purely macroscopic modeling with scale bridging operations of selected micromechanisms. On the micromechanical side, we develop a new algorithmic procedure to capture the crystal reorientation for evolving fcc and bcc textures based on a parametrization of rotations in the Rodigues space. The computational model provides a fast and robust method for the estimation of evolving textures. This computational tool for texture estimation is incorporated in a modular format into a micro-macro-model, where it governs the evolution of macrostructural tensors due to texture development. The general framework for the hybrid embedding is a purely phenomenological setting of anisotropic finite plasticity in the logarithmic strain space. The model provides an efficient and computationally handable two-scale approach for the prediction of effects caused by complex microstructural changes in polycrystals. The capability of the proposed method is demonstrated by means of representative numerical examples. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling of microscopic failure in heterogeneous materials

The proper modeling of state-of-the-art engineering materials requires a profound understanding of the nonlinear macroscopic material behavior. Especially for heterogeneous materials the effective macroscopic response is amongst others driven by damage effects and the inelastic material behavior of the individual constituents [1]. Since the macroscopic length scale of such materials is significantly larger than the fine-scale structure, a direct modeling of the local structure in a component model is not convenient. Multiscale techniques can be used to predict the effective material behavior. To this end, the authors developed a modeling technique based on representative volume elements (RVE) to predict the effective material behavior on different length scales. The extended finite element method (XFEM) is used to model discontinuities within the material structure independent of the underlying FE mesh. A dual enrichment strategy allows for the combined modeling of kinks (material interfaces) and jumps (cracks) within the displacement field [2]. The gradual degradation of the interface is thereby controlled by a cohesive zone model. In addition to interface failure, a non-local strain driven continuum damage model has been formulated to efficiently detect localization zones within the material phases. An integral formulation introduces a characteristic length scale and assures the convergence of the approach upon mesh refinement [3]. The proposed method allows for an efficient modeling of substantial failure mechanisms within a heterogeneous structure without the need of remeshing or element substitution. Due to the generality of the approach it can be used on different length scales. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical Prediction of Macroscopic Material Failure

The aim of this contribution is the numerical determination of macroscopic material properties based on constitutive relationships characterising the microscale. A macroscopic failure criterion is computed using a three dimensional finite element formulation. The proposed finite element model implements the Strong Discontinuity Approach (SDA) in order to include the localised, fully nonlinear kinematics associated with the failure on the microscale. This numerical application exploits further the Enhanced–Assumed–Strain (EAS) concept to decompose additively the deformation gradient into a conforming part corresponding to a smooth deformation mapping and an enhanced part reflecting the final failure kinematics of the microscale. This finite element formulation is then used for the modelling of the microscale and for the discretisation of a representative volume element (RVE). The macroscopic material behaviour results from numerical computations of the RVE. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Analysis of elastomeric composites based on fiber-reinforced systems. 1. Development of design methods for composite materials

A method for calculating the elastic properties of fiber-reinforced composites is discussed. The method is based on the structural macroscopic theory for reinforced media [1, 2], which can be used for analysis of stiff and soft composites. As a measure of the elastic properties of composites, the parameters of macroscopic deformations of the base system of Cartesian coordinates are used, with the axes oriented in a certain direction relative to the general reinforcement and loading field. The corresponding macrostresses in the loaded composites are found by a solution of the microboundary problem for a composite macroelement with sides parallel to reinforcement planes of the system. The microboundary-value problem is multiply connected and is formulated based on the information about the homogeneous field of macroscopic displacements specified by the parameters of macroscopic deformation. The problem is solved using the local system of coordinates whose axes are directed along some of the reinforcement trajectories.State Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine, Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 733–745, November–December, 1998.     

Microstructural behaviour of transversal isotropic material

We discuss and simulate transversal isotropic material under tension loading. The preferential direction of the material is inclined under 45 degrees to the direction of the tensile resultant. In this configuration the deformation of a rectangular test specimen differ from the behaviour of isotropic material in the way, that beside Poissons effect additional displacement appear perpendicular to the tension direction. In classical continuum theories, this transverse deformations describe a typical S–shape. By using a non–local continuum theory, the effect of microstructural orientation is incorporated into the numerical model. Then, it depends on a phenomenological parameter of inner structure whether the energetically favoured configuration is classical or contains microstructural behaviour. In the second case, the transverse deformation is not described by the typical S–shape, but with higher forms of it. A simple experimental model will show the connection between the inner structure of the material and the rotational parameters within the non–local continuum theory. It is evident, that these parameters are responsible for the non–classical behaviour and give the possibility to find energetically favoured solutions. The results of the finite–element–analyses can help to understand constitutive parameters for the non–local continuum theory and to apply it to other specimens. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling of the effective viscoelastic material behavior of textile reinforced composites using a multi-scale approach

The increasing importance of constructive lightweight in modern engineering science involves the use of advanced materials like textile reinforced composites. In order to reduce development costs, efficient numerical simulations are needed to model the macroscopic behavior of the final product. Focussing on long term phenomena, which are important when parts made of composites with rate-dependent material behavior are assembled by bolted or screwed joints, a two-step homogenization procedure is used to obtain an effective homogeneous equivalent material at the macroscopic scale. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computational Multi-Scale Stability Analysis of Periodic Electroactive Polymer Composites at Finite Strains

This work is dedicated to multi-scale stability analysis, especially macroscopic and microscopic stability analysis of periodic electroactive polymer (EAP) composites with embedded fibers. Computational homogenization is considered to determine the response of materials at macro-scale depending on the selected representative volume element (RVE) at micro-scale [4, 5]. The quasi-incompressibility condition is considered by implementing a four-field variational formulation on the RVE, see [7]. Based on the works [1–3, 6, 8] the macroscopic instabilities are determined by the loss of strong ellipticity of homogenized moduli. On the other hand, the bifurcation type microscopic instabilities are treated exploiting the Bloch-Floquet wave analysis in context of finite element discretization, which allows to detect the changed critical size of periodicity of the microstructure and critical macroscopic loading points. Finally, representative numerical examples are given which demonstrate the onset of instability surfaces, the stable macroscopic loading ranges, and further a periodic buckling mode at a microscopic instability point is presented. (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)