Quantification of stochastically stable representative volumes for random heterogeneous materials

This paper details a procedure to determine lower bounds on the size of representative volume elements (RVEs) by which the size of the RVE can be quantified objectively for random heterogeneous materials. Here, attention is focused on granular materials with various distributions of inclusion size and volume fraction of inclusions. An extensive analysis of the RVE size dependence on the various parameters is performed. Both deterministic and stochastic parameters are analysed. Also, the effects of loading mode and the parameter of interest are studied. As the RVE size is a function of the material, some material properties such as Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are analysed as factors that influence the RVE size. The lower bound of RVE size is found as a function of the stochastically distributed volume fraction of inclusions; thus the stochastic stability of the obtained results is assessed. To this end a newly defined concept of stochastic stability (DH-stability) is introduced by which stochastic effects can be included in the stability considerations. DH-stability can be seen as an extension of classical Lyapunov stability. As is shown, DH-stability provides an objective tool to establish the lower bound nature of RVEs for fluctuations in stochastic parameters.     

Determination of the size of the representative volume element for random composites: statistical and numerical approach

The representative volume element (RVE) plays a central role in the mechanics and physics of random heterogeneous materials with a view to predicting their effective properties. A quantitative definition of its size is proposed in this work. A RVE size can be associated with a given precision of the estimation of the wanted overall property and the number of realizations of a given volume V of microstructure that one is able to consider. It is shown to depend on the investigated morphological or physical property, the contrast in the properties of the constituents, and their volume fractions. The methodology is applied to a specific random microstructure, namely a two-phase three-dimensional Voronoı̈ mosaic. Finite element simulations of volumes of different sizes are performed in the case of linear elasticity and thermal conductivity. The volumes are subjected to homogeneous strain, stress or periodic boundary conditions. The effective properties can be determined for large volumes and a small number of realizations. Conversely, smaller volumes can be used providing that a sufficient number of realizations are considered. A bias in the estimation of the effective properties is observed for too small volumes for all types of boundary conditions. The variance of computed apparent properties for each volume size is used to define the precision of the estimation. The key-notion of integral range is introduced to relate this error estimation and the definition of the RVE size. For given wanted precision and number of realizations, one is able to provide a minimal volume size for the computation of effective properties. The results can also be used to predict the minimal number of realizations that must be considered for a given volume size in order to estimate the effective property for a given precision. The RVE sizes found for elastic and thermal properties, but also for a geometrical property like volume fraction, are compared.     

Assessment of existing and introduction of a new and robust efficient definition of the representative volume element

Accurate numerical homogenization necessitates the thorough determination of the Representative Volume Element (RVE). There exists several seminal works on the notion of the RVE in homogenization, its definitions and methods of determination for efficient computation of composite effective properties. The objective of the current work is to assess the ability of numerical RVE determination methods to deliver accurate effective properties of composite materials. This paper demonstrates that common and well-established RVE determination methods, based on studying the convergence rate of the effective properties with respect to the volume element size, are invalid for the case of composites reinforced by randomly oriented fibers and yield erroneous estimates of their effective properties. Following the failure of traditional RVE determination methods, we proposed a new RVE determination criterion that is not based on the average property stability, but its statistical variations. Our new proposed criterion has been shown to be more accurate than other criteria in computing the effective properties of composites for aspect ratios up to 60. Moreover, the proposed criterion does not necessitate a convergence study over the volume element size, hence reducing considerably the RVE determination cost. Finally, our work questions the validity of many published works dealing with composites including heterogeneities of high aspect ratios.     

A Quantitative study of minimum sizes of representative volume elements of cubic polycrystals—numerical experiments

The concept of representative volume element (RVE) plays a key role in correlating the properties of microscopically heterogeneous materials with those of their macroscopically homogenized ones. However, up to now little quantitative knowledge is available about RVE scales or sizes of various engineering materials, which have been becoming a necessity due to the rapid development of, for instance, microelectromechanical systems. A new and convenient definition of the minimum RVE size is introduced. Then more than 500 kinds of cubic polycrystalline material in the planar stress state are numerically tested. The major finding from these numerical experiments is that the RVE size for the effective shear modulus (as well as the Young's modulus) depends roughly linearly upon the anisotropy degree of the single crystal, while the effective area modulus does not. For the latter observation a theoretical proof is also given. With a maximum relative error 5%, all the materials tested (with one exception) have a minimal RVE size of 20 or less times as large as the grain size.     

Determination of the size of the representative volume element for random quasi-brittle composites

A representative volume element (RVE) is related to the domain size of a microstructure providing a “good” statistical representation of typical material properties. The size of an RVE for the class of quasi-brittle random heterogeneous materials under dynamic loading is one of the major questions to be answered in this paper. A new statistical strategy is thus proposed for the RVE size determination. The microstructure illustrating the methodology of the RVE size determination is a metal matrix composite with randomly distributed aligned brittle inclusions: the hydrided Zircaloy constituting nuclear claddings. For a given volume fraction of inclusions, the periodic RVE size is found in the case of overall elastic properties and of overall fracture energy. In the latter case, the term “representative” is discussed since the fracture tends to localize. A correlation factor between the “elastic” RVE and the “fracture” RVE is discussed.     

考虑内部胞元能量等效的代表体元法

具有周期性胞元的超轻质材料在制造和应用过程中,不可避免地会出现基体材料、微结构拓扑和尺寸的随机性变化.此时,评价材料的等效弹性性能需要借助基于均匀化方法(周期性边界条件)或代表体元法(周期性边界条件,均匀应力或均匀应变边界条件等)的蒙特卡洛模拟.该文首先通过算例分析和比较了不同边界条件下的数值结果,讨论了结果的尺度效应和对胞元选取的依赖性.为了提高和改善Dirichlet边界条件下的计算效率和结果,提出了一种考虑内部胞元能量等效的代表体元法.该方法能够有效削弱边界条件和胞元选取的影响,从而实现了采用较小的代表体元得到更好的结果.数值算例验证了方法在预测确定性材料和随机性材料等效模量时的有效性.     

Influence of interfaces on effective properties of nanomaterials with stochastically distributed spherical inclusions

The method of conditional moments is generalized to include evaluation of the effective elastic properties of particulate nanomaterials and to investigate the size effect in those materials. Determining the effective constants necessitates finding a stochastically averaged solution to the fundamental equations of linear elasticity coupled with surface/interface conditions (Gurtin–Murdoch model). To obtain such a solution the system of governing stochastic differential equations is first transformed to an equivalent system of stochastic integral equations. Using statistical averaging, the boundary-value problem is then converted to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations. A two-point approximation is considered and the stress fluctuations within the inclusions are neglected in order to obtain a finite system of algebraic equations in terms of component-average strains. Closed-form expressions are derived for the effective moduli of a composite consisting of a matrix and randomly distributed spherical inhomogeneities. As a numerical example a nanoporous material is investigated assuming a model in which the interface effects influence only the bulk modulus of the material. In that model the resulting shear modulus is the same as for the material without surface effects. Dependence of the bulk moduli on the radius of nanopores and on the pore volume fraction is analyzed. The results are compared to, and discussed in the context of other theoretical predictions.     

Mesoscale bounds in viscoelasticity of random composites

Under consideration is the problem of size and response of the representative volume element (RVE) of spatially random linear viscoelastic materials. The model microstructure adopted here is the random checkerboard with one phase elastic and another viscoelastic, perfectly bonded everywhere. The method relies on the hierarchies of mesoscale bounds of relaxation moduli and creep compliances (Huet, 1995, 1999) obtained via solutions of two stochastic initial boundary value problems, respectively, under uniform kinematic and uniform stress boundary conditions. In general, the microscale viscoelasticity introduces larger discrepancy in the hierarchy of mesoscale bounds compared to elasticity, and this discrepancy grows as the time increases.     

桁架板等效刚度分析

桁架材料的连续介质等效模型的研究已有相当基础,而工程中桁架材料往往以类板结构形式出现,其变形表现出明显的弯曲特征。将类板桁架材料采用弯曲板模型模拟,研究合理的方法确定等效板模型的刚度具有重要意义。本文在基于Kirchhoff假定的小挠度薄板弹性理论框架下,研究了类板桁架材料的等效弯曲薄板模型,提出了确定薄板模型等效刚度的基于Dirichlet位移边界条件的代表体元法,给出了确定各刚度系数所对应的代表体元的边界位移形式。具体计算了几种典型形式桁架板的等效刚度,并采用有限元离散模型和实验技术分析了桁架板在一定的边界约束和荷载作用下的响应,并与等效板模型的分析结果进行了对比。结果表明,在响应分析中,具有等效刚度的薄板模型可准确模拟类板桁架材料;连续介质板等效刚度计算的积分法不能给出准确的桁架板等效刚度,而基于Dirichlet位移边界条件的代表体元法获得的等效板的刚度具有很高的精度。     

Triply periodical particulate matrix compositesinvarying external stress fields

We consider a linear elastic composite medium, which consists of ahomogeneousmatrix containing aligned ellipsoidal uncoated or coated inclusions arranged in aperiodic arrayand subjected to inhomogeneous boundary conditions. The hypothesis of effectivefieldhomogeneity near the inclusions is used. The general integral equation obtained reducestheanalysis of infinite number of inclusion problems to the analysis of a finite number of inclusionsinsome representative volume element (RVE) . The integral equation is solved by theFouriertransform method as well as by the iteration method of the Neumann series ( first-orderapproximation) . The nonlocal macroscopic constitutive equation relating the unit cellaverages ofstress and strain is derived in explicit closed forms either of a differential equation ofasecond-order or of an integral equation. The employed of explicit relations fornumericalestimations of tensors describing the local and nonlocal effective elastic properties aswell asaverage stresses in the composites containing simple cubic lattices of rigid inclusions andvoids areconsidered.     

Constitutive response of idealized granular media under the principal stress axes rotation

This paper is dedicated to the understanding of the phenomena, which give rise to anisotropy and non-coaxiality in granular materials. In achieving three-dimensional numerical simulation under static condition of granular media, granular element method (GEM) is adopted in this study. The method has been incorporated into the so-called mathematical homogenization theory for quasi-static equilibrium problems, which enables us to obtain the macroscopic/phenomenological inelastic deformation response of a representative volume element (RVE). To examine the anisotropic macroscopic deformation properties of the assumed RVE, which is solved by granular element method (GEM), a series of numerical experiments involving the pure rotation of the principal stress axes are carried out, and its results are discussed in relation to induced anisotropy and non-coaxiality.     

Modeling micro-inertia in heterogeneous materials under dynamic loading

A continuum model including micro-inertia for heterogeneous materials under dynamic loading is proposed using a micro-mechanics method. The macro strain and stress are defined as the volume averages of the strain and stress fields in the representative volume element (RVE). The macro equations of motion are derived by using Hamilton’s principle together with the strain energy density and kinetic energy density involving the micro-inertia terms. The new macro equations of motion are used to study harmonic and transient wave propagation in layered media. Using a simple linear displacement field for the RVE, the dispersion curves obtained from the present model agree with the exact solutions very well for a range of wavelengths. The present model is also applied to analyze the transient response of layered media subjected to a triangular pulse loading. Comparison is made between the results of the present model and a finite element analysis.     

考虑材料各向异性的熔丝制造PLA点阵结构弹性各向同性设计

增材制造技术的兴起激发了国内外学者对结构创新设计的热情. 然而, 增材制造材料的各向异性为结构力学性能的预测与设计带来了一定的困难. 为了准确预测熔丝制造聚乳酸(PLA)材料和点阵结构的弹性性能, 并实现点阵结构的弹性各向同性设计, 首先, 本文采用正交各向异性弹性模型来描述PLA材料的弹性行为, 通过实验和计算得到了正交各向异性模型需要的9个独立的弹性常数. 然后, 设计了一种力学性能可调的二维组合桁架点阵结构, 基于代表体元法, 在不考虑材料各向异性的情况下推导出了其平面内等效弹性性能的解析表达式及弹性各向同性条件. 最后, 根据PLA材料的各向异性调整点阵结构内部杆件的弹性模量和厚度, 并基于代表体元法重新推导出了点阵结构平面内等效弹性性能的解析表达式及其弹性各向同性条件. 研究结果表明, 正交各向异性弹性模型适用于描述熔丝制造PLA材料的弹性行为, 基于该模型能够准确预测PLA材料在任意方向上的弹性模量. 在预测与设计熔丝制造点阵结构的力学性能时需要充分考虑材料的各向异性. 在考虑材料的各向异性之后, 基于代表体元法调整点阵结构的几何尺寸, 能够实现部分点阵结构的弹性各向同性设计.      

Computational model for short-fiber composites with eigenstrain formulation of boundary integral equations

A computational model is proposed for short-fiber reinforced materials with the eigenstrain formulation of the boundary integral equations(BIE)and solved with the newly developed boundary point method(BPM).The model is closely derived from the concept of the equivalent inclusion of Eshelby tensors.Eigenstrains are iteratively determined for each short.fiber embedded in the matrix with various properties via the Eshelby tensors,which can be readily obtained beforehand either through analytical or numerical means.As unknown variables appear only on the boundary of the solution domain,the solution scale of the inhomogeneity problem with the model is greatly reduced.This feature is considered significant because such a traditionally time-consuming problem with inhomogeneity can be solved most cost-effectively compared with existing numerical models of the FEM or the BEM.The numerical examples are presented to compute the overall elastic properties for various short-fiber reinforced composites over a representative volume element(RVE),showing the validity and the effectiveness of the proposed computational modal and the solution procedure.     

Computational model for short-fiber composites with eigenstrain formulation of boundary integral equations

A computational model is proposed for short-fiber reinforced materials with the eigenstrain formulation of the boundary integral equations （BIE） and solved with the newly developed boundary point method （BPM）. The model is closely derived from the concept of the equivalent inclusion Of Eshelby tensors. Eigenstrains are iteratively determined for each short-fiber embedded in the matrix with various properties via the Eshelby tensors, which can be readily obtained beforehand either through analytical or numerical means. As unknown variables appear only on the boundary of the solution domain, the solution scale of the inhomogeneity problem with the model is greatly reduced. This feature is considered significant because such a traditionally time-consuming problem with inhomogeneity can be solved most cost-effectively compared with existing numerical models of the FEM or the BEM. The numerical examples are presented to compute the overall elastic properties for various short-fiber reinforced composites over a representative volume element （RVE）, showing the validity and the effectiveness of the proposed computational modal and the solution procedure.     

沿指定应力路径加载的有限元RVE模型研究

在细观尺度上建立能反映材料微观组织结构又能反映统计意义上宏观力学性能的代表性体积单元（Representative Volume Element, RVE）,对其进行复杂加载下的数值研究,是目前预测材料宏观力学性能较有效的方法。本文从理论上分析并提供了对正六面体RVE在任意应力状态及任意应力路径下加载及宏观应力、应变计算的方法,用有限元软件ABAQUS实现了数值计算过程,并用此方法对循环加载下缺口圆棒颈部中心和边缘位置进行了RVE分析。结果表明：（1）此方法能准确的控制并实现正六面体RVE在任意应力状态及应力状态路径下加载;（2）通过RVE分析,可用于复杂加载下试样局部细观结构变化的研究。     

Effective couple-stress continuum model of cellular solids and size effects analysis

The purpose of this paper is to develop a homogeneous, orthotropic couple-stress continuum model to take the place of the periodic heterogeneous cellular solids. Through generalizing the definition of the characteristic length for isotropic couple-stress continuum, four characteristic lengths are introduced as material engineering constants for such kind of continuum. In order to determine the effective moduli and the characteristic lengths of the effective couple-stress continuum, a Representative Volume Element (RVE) method is constructed. The effective properties are obtained based on the response of the RVE under prescribed boundary conditions, and our results agree with the analytical solutions in literature. In addition, the influences of the relative density, the topology, the size, and the properties of the solid material of cellular materials on the effective moduli as well as the characteristic lengths are discussed, respectively. Furthermore, the size effects in cellular solid beams are investigated using our effective couple-stress continuum model. The results show that the developed continuum model in this paper can precisely capture the size effects in cellular solids.     

Effective thermoelastic properties of graded doublyperiodic particulate matrix composites in varying externalstress fields

We consider a linear elastic composite medium, which consists of a homogeneousmatrix containing aligned ellipsoidal uncoated or coated inclusions arranged in a doubly periodicarray and subjected to inhomogeneous boundary conditions. The hypothesis of effective fieldhomogeneity near the inclusions is used. The general integral equation obtained reduces theanalysis of infinite number of inclusion problems to the analysis of a finite number of inclusions insome representative volume element (RVE) . The integral equation is solved by a modifiedversion of the Neumann series; the fast convergence of this method is demonstrated for concreteexamples. The nonlocal macroscopic constitutive equation relating the cell averages of stress andstrain is derived in explicit iterative form of an integral equation. A doubly periodic inclusion fieldin a finite ply subjected to a stress gradient along the functionally graded direction is considered.The stresses averaged over the cell are explicitly represented as functions of the boundaryconditions. Finally, the employed of proposed explicit relations for numerical simulations oftensors describing the local and nonlocal effective elastic properties of finite inclusion pliescontaining a simple cubic lattice of rigid inclusions and voids are considered. The local andnonlocal parts of average strains are estimated for inclusion plies of different thickness. Theboundary layers and scale effects for effective local and nonlocal effective properties as well as foraverage stresses will be revealed.     

Influences of initial porosity,stress triaxiality and Lode parameter on plastic deformation and ductile fracture

Local mechanical properties in aluminum cast components are inhomogeneous as a consequence of spatial distribution of microstructure,e.g.,porosity,inclusions,grain size and arm spacing of secondary dendrites.In this work,the effect of porosity is investigated.Cast components contain voids with different sizes,forms,orientations and distributions.This is approximated by a porosity distribution in the following.The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of initial porosity,stress triaxiality and Lode parameter on plastic deformation and ductile fracture.A micromechanical model with a spherical void located at the center of the matrix material,called the representative volume element(RVE),is developed.Fully periodic boundary conditions are applied to the RVE and the values of stress triaxiality and Lode parameter are kept constant during the entire course of loading.For this purpose,a multi-point constraint(MPC)user subroutine is developed to prescribe the loading.The results of the RVE model are used to establish the constitutive equations and to further investigate the influences of initial porosity,stress triaxiality and Lode parameter on elastic constant,plastic deformation and ductile fracture of an aluminum die casting alloy.     

Static and dynamic behaviour of nonlocal elastic bar using integral strain-based and peridynamic models

The static and dynamic behaviour of a nonlocal bar of finite length is studied in this paper. The nonlocal integral models considered in this paper are strain-based and relative displacement-based nonlocal models; the latter one is also labelled as a peridynamic model. For infinite media, and for sufficiently smooth displacement fields, both integral nonlocal models can be equivalent, assuming some kernel correspondence rules. For infinite media (or finite media with extended reflection rules), it is also shown that Eringen's differential model can be reformulated into a consistent strain-based integral nonlocal model with exponential kernel, or into a relative displacement-based integral nonlocal model with a modified exponential kernel. A finite bar in uniform tension is considered as a paradigmatic static case. The strain-based nonlocal behaviour of this bar in tension is analyzed for different kernels available in the literature. It is shown that the kernel has to fulfil some normalization and end compatibility conditions in order to preserve the uniform strain field associated with this homogeneous stress state. Such a kernel can be built by combining a local and a nonlocal strain measure with compatible boundary conditions, or by extending the domain outside its finite size while preserving some kinematic compatibility conditions. The same results are shown for the nonlocal peridynamic bar where a homogeneous strain field is also analytically obtained in the elastic bar for consistent compatible kinematic boundary conditions at the vicinity of the end conditions. The results are extended to the vibration of a fixed–fixed finite bar where the natural frequencies are calculated for both the strain-based and the peridynamic models.