Numerical homogenization of composite structures with rhombic fiber arrangements

A numerical procedure is developed to determine effective material properties of unidirectional fiber reinforced composites with rhombic fiber arrangements. With the assumption of a periodic micro structure a representative volume element (RVE) is considered, where the phases have isotropic or transversely isotropic material characterizations. The interface between the phases is treated as perfect. The procedure handles the primary non-rectangular periodicity with homogenization techniques based on finite element models. Due to appropriate boundary conditions applied to the RVE elastic effective coefficients are derived. Six different boundary condition states are required to get all coefficients of the stiffness tensor. Results are listed and compared with other publications and good agreements are shown. Furthermore new results are presented, which exhibit the orthotropic behavior of such composites caused by the rhombic fiber arrangement. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A RVE-based micro mechanical model for short fiber reinforced plastic materials including matrix damage and fiber fracture

The representative volume element (RVE) method is applied to a fiber reinforced polymer material undergoing matrix damage and fiber fracture. Results of RVE computations are compared to uniaxial tensile tests performed with the composite material. It is shown that the macroscopic behavior of the composite material can accurately be predicted by RVE computations. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On the simulation of textile reinforced concrete using a multi scale approach

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is a composite of textile structures made of multi-filament yarns (rovings) within a cementitious matrix. Experimental investigations of textile reinforced concrete specimen show very complex failure mechanisms on different length scales. Therefore mechanical models on the micro, meso and macro scale are introduced. The paper presents a hierarchical material model of TRC on three scales. While on the micro scale the individual filaments of the fiber bundles are distinguished to determine an effective roving behavior, models on the meso scale are used to predict the macroscopic response of the composite material. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Microscale modelling and homogenization of fiber structured materials

Various phenomena occurring on the macrosscale result from physical and mechanical behaviour on the microscale [1]. For the mechanical modeling and simulation of the heterogeneous composition of fiber structured material, in addition to the material properties the contact between the fibers has to be taken into account. The material behaviour is strongly influenced by the material properties of the fiber, but also by the geometrical structure. Periodically arranged fibers like woven, knitted or plaited fabrics and randomly oriented ones like fleece can be distinguished in their arrangement. In consideration of different lengthscales the problem involves, it is necessary to introduce a multiscale approach based on the concept of a representative volume element (RVE). The macro-micro scale transition requires a method to impose the deformation gradient on the RVE by suited boundary conditions. The reversing scale transition, based on the HILL-MANDEL condition, requires the equality of the macroscopic average of the variation of work on the RVE and the local variation of the work on the macroscale [2]. For the micro-macro transition the averaged stresses have to be extracted by a homogenization scheme. From these results an effective material law can be derived. Beside the theoretical aspects, we present the stress-strain relation for RVE-models and different boundary conditions. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Micro-macro modelling of fiber reinforced composites exhibiting elastoplastic deformation

Fiber reinforced plastics such as carbon fiber-reinforced composites are typically characterized by their high siffness to weight ratio making them particularly attractive in lightweight construction. In addition, the architecture of these materials means that the correct modelling of their orthotropy is very important. In this work, volume averaged stress-strain responses are generated from a micro representative volume element (RVE). A nonlinear macro constitutive material model accounting for anisotropic plasticity is proposed. The model is fitted and compared to the micro stress-strain response. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Macroscopic finite element analyses of discretematerials based on directly evaluated micro‐macro transitions

We consider a homogenized macro‐continuum with locally attached microstructure of granules and derive specific micromacro transitions by a consistent transfer of discrete micro‐variables to field variables on a continuous macrostructure. Displacements and rotational constraints are imposed on the granules on the defined boundary frame of the microstructure. The constraints for linear displacements and uniform tractions on the surface yield upper and lower bound characteristics for periodic boundary conditions with regard to the aggregate stiffness. Secondly, we perform two‐scale analyses where we link simulations on the macro‐ and the microscales. Therein, coupled boundary‐value problems are solved on both scales. The macroscopic homogeneous problem is solved by a finite element method where the material model is implemented using the directly evaluated micro‐macro transitions on the basis of the discrete microstructures. Finally, a model problem is investigated to clarify the proposed method. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optimal Experimental Design to Identify the Average Stress-Strain Response in Short Fiber-Reinforced Plastics

We show how to use optimal experimental design methods for the parameter identification of short fiber reinforced plastic (SFRP) materials. The experimental data is given by computer simulations of representative volume elements (RVE) of the SFRP material. The experiments are designed such that a minimal number of RVE simulations is required and that the model response attains a minimal variance for a class of strains and fiber orientations. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Designing Statistically Similar RVEs for 3D Dual Phase Steel Microstructures

This contribution presents a method for the construction of three-dimensional Statistically Similar Representative Volume Elements (SSRVEs) for dual phase steels (DP steels). From such kind of advanced high strength steels, enhanced material properties are observed, which originate in the interaction of the individual constituents of the material on the microscale. Our aim is to directly incorporate the microstructure in the material modeling, which can be accomplished by applying i. e. the FE² method. A RVE representing the real material is used in the microscopic boundary value problem, which is solved at each macroscopic integration point. Since such RVEs usually exhibit a high complexity due to the underlying real microstructure, high computational costs are a drawback of the approach. We replace this RVE with a SSRVE, which has a lower complexity but which is still able to represent the mechanical behavior of the RVE and thus of the real microstructure. Virtual experiments show the performance of the method. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

短纤维复合材料的本征应变边界积分方程计算模型

提出了短纤维复合材料的本征应变边界积分方程计算模型,并采用新发展的边界点法进行了求解．模型依据Eshelby等效夹杂物的概念并借助Eshelby张量,采用迭代方法来计算基体中各种性能短纤维的本征应变,其中所需的Eshelby张量不难通过解析或数值方法获得．由于未知量只出现在边界上,与已有的有限元和边界元模型相比,提出的计算模型可极大地减小异质体问题的求解规模,提高计算效率．通过数值算例计算了代表性体积单元上各种短纤维复合材料的整体弹性性能,验证了计算模型和求解方法的正确性和有效性．     

A constitutive model for continuous fiber reinforced polymer plies

In the present paper a constitutive model is reviewed which can be used to predict the non-linear behavior of continuous fiber reinforced laminates with polymeric matrix materials. The constitutive model considers stiffness degradation and plastic strain accumulation at the length scale of the individual plies (laminae). These effects are modeled via two different phenomenological approaches, however, their interaction is considered when the constitutive equations are solved by an implicit integration scheme. To demonstrate the predictive capabilities of the individual model parts, examples are given where the above mentioned effects are decoupled. This way, their impact on the laminate's response can be studied independently. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Micro-mechanical analysis of creep behavior in a multipass weld

A method of evaluating creep response of the multipass weld based on the micro-macro mechanics approach is introduced. Multipass weld microstructure that consists from columnar, coarse and fine grained zones is considered. Materials of these constituents assumed to be isotropic. Weld metal properties of inelastic behavior have general type of symmetry and are described by the anisotropic creep constitutive model. To model the microstructure of the multipass weld metal the representative volume element (RVE) is created for CAE Abaqus. Material properties of weld metal grain type zones are taken from the experiments. Numerical tests on uniform loading of the RVE are performed. Creep material properties for equivalent weld material are found for welds with different number of passes. The symmetry type of the creep material properties of multi-pass weld are evaluated for the equivalent weld material. As an example of macro model analysis of the welding, the creep calculation of the cylindrical shell with the welding under the uniform inner pressure is performed. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effective Dynamic Material Properties of Foam-like Microstructures

The effective material parameters of a microstructured material can be found using homogenization procedures based on calculations of a Representative Volume Element (RVE) of the material. In our approach the RVE is calculated in frequency domain and inertia is taken into account, leading to a frequency dependent behavior of the RVE.With the frequency response of the RVE, effective dynamic properties of the material are calculated using an optimization procedure. Due to the frequency dependent material behavior on the microscale a viscoelastic constitutive equation is applied on the macroscale. An example calculation is presented for an auxetic 2-D foam-like microstructure which is modelled as a plane frame structure. (© 2005 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)     

A finite element thermo-viscoelastic creep approach for heterogeneous structures with dissipative correctors

A finite element approach is presented for three-dimensional thermo-viscoelastic macro analysis of polymer-matrix composite structures containing micro-level heterogeneities, a two-scale approach. Due to its ability to account for microstructural details, the asymptotic expansion homogenization approach is employed to first, obtain the homogenized properties for use in the macroscale problem, and second, to study the local micro-level stress distributions influenced by macro effects. The theoretical formulations are described and developed for a thermoviscoelastic solid whose time-dependent stress–strain relationship can be homogenized. Arising from homogenization of the constitutive equation in the time domain is a hereditary dissipative corrector term. The dissipative corrector is time-dependent and accounts for heterogeneous behavior across the junction of dissimilar materials at the microstructural level. The additional term is necessary for the governing constitutive equations to satisfy equilibrium at both length scales. The objectives of this paper are three-fold: (1) develop the micro and macro constitutive equations for a thermoviscoelastic Kelvin–Voight material; (2) develop a computational approach for the constitutive equations; and (3) demonstrate and verify illustrative applications using results from the theoretical developments in the literature wherever available for a viscoelastic homogeneous/heterogeneous material.     

Computational Homogenization of Micromechanically Resolved Textile Materials

This contribution deals with textile materials. On the macroscopic level textiles are characterized by a large area-to-thickness ratio, such that it is numerically efficient to treat the textile structure as a shell. To capture the contact behavior, fibers within a representative volume element are explicitly modeled by means of one dimensional beam elements on the microscopic level. A suitable, shell-specific homogenization method is developed, which connects the homogeneous shell specific macro level to a fiber structured micro level. This contribution investigates the determination of the nonlinear constitutive behavior of textile materials. Selected examples for the macroscopic behavior of microscopic heterogeneous fiber structured materials are presented. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Microscale modeling and homogenization of rope-like textiles

This contribution deals with rope-like textiles. On the macroscopic level rope-like textiles are characterized by a large length-to-thickness ratio, such that a discretization with beam elements is numerically efficient. To capture the contact behavior the representative volume element is explicitly modeled by means of a volumetric micro sample. A suitable, beam-specific FE₂ method is developed, which connects the homogeneous macro level to a fiber structured micro sample. This contribution investigates the determination of the nonlinear constitutive behavior of rope-like textiles. Selected examples for the macroscopic behavior of microscopic heterogeneous fiber structured materials are presented. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Topological sensitivity analysis of a multi‐scale constitutive model considering a cracked microstructure

This paper deals with the sensitivity analysis of the macroscopic elasticity tensor to topological microstructural changes of the underlying material. In particular, the microstucture is topologicaly perturbed by the nucleation of a small circular inclusion. The derivation of the proposed sensitivity relies on the concept of topological derivative, applied within a variational multi‐scale constitutive framework where the macroscopic strain and stress at each point of the macroscopic continuum are defined as volume averages of their microscopic counterparts over a representative volume element (RVE) of material associated with that point. We consider that the RVE can contain a number of voids, inclusions and/or cracks. It is assumed that non‐penetration conditions are imposed at the crack faces, which do not allow the opposite crack faces to penetrate each other. The derived sensitivity leads to a symmetric fourth‐order tensor field over the unperturbed RVE domain, which measures how the macroscopic elasticity parameters estimated within the multi‐scale framework changes when a small circular inclusion is introduced at the micro‐scale level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-scale modeling of beam-like structures: A new boundary condition concept for the RVE

In this work a coupled two-scale beam model using Timoshenko beam elements [1] with finite displacements on the macro scale and fully non-linear 3D brick elements on the micro scale is proposed. The calculation is carried out with the so-called FE² concept. To achieve the coupling between the beam and the brick elements, the algorithm from [2] is adapted. Within the degenerated concept of the Timoshenko beam, the introduction of a pure shear deformation leads to significant problems concerning the equilibrium condition on the micro scale. Applying this deformation mode on the RVE with periodic boundary conditions results in a rigid body rotation. Using linear displacement boundary conditions instead, the wrapping deformation is suppressed on the boundary, leading to a length dependency in the torsional deformation mode. In addition, the shear forces introduce a bending moment, which depends on the length of the RVE and adds spurious normal stresses and a length dependency of the shear stiffness. To overcome these problems, periodic boundary conditions are applied and the displacement assumptions are modified such that the shear deformation is achieved with force pairs on both ends of the RVE. The resulting model leads to length independent results in tension, bending and torsion and a domain which is able to produce a pure shear stress state. Consequently, only this domain of the model should be homogenized which can be accomplished by modifying the variations in the algorithm [2]. The concept is validated by simple linear and non-linear test problems. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)