Modeling of anisotropic polydispersed composites by progressive micromechanical approach

A progressive micromechanical method is presented in order to predict the elastic constants of polydispersed composites including multi-directional or randomly oriented reinforcement particles. Heterogeneities of various types are introduced into the matrices in a gradual manner. At each step, the Mori-Tanaka method is used to obtain the stiffness tensor of the intermediate medium used as a matrix of the following step. The proposed method is capable of introducing any kind of heterogeneities based on their dimensions, orientations, mechanical properties, and volume fractions to the matrix. Furthermore, suitable probability density functions can be defined for physical and structural parameters of the composite, including the level of the filler-matrix interfacial bonding, the aspect ratio, and the orientation of reinforcement particles. The efficiency of the iterative approach and the convergence of the solution are studied by computing the stiffness tensors of unidirectional and bidirectional particulate composites. The results of the present study are also compared with the literature data for a randomly oriented particulate composite.     

基于迭代法的非线性弹性均质化研究

微观结构对复合材料的宏观力学性能具有至关重要的影响, 通过合理设计复合材料微观结构可以得到期望的宏观性能. 均质化方法作为一种有效的设计方法, 它从微观结构的角度出发, 利用均匀化的概念, 实现了对复合材料宏观力学性能的预测和设计. 而当考虑非线性因素, 均质化的实现就非常困难. 本文利用双渐近展开方法, 将位移按照宏观位移和微观位移展开, 推导了非线性弹性均质化方程. 通过直接迭代法, 对非线性弹性均质化方程进行了求解, 并给出了具体的迭代方法和实现步骤. 本文基于迭代步骤和非线性弹性均质化方程编写MATLAB 程序, 对3种典型本构关系的周期性多孔材料平面问题进行了计算, 对比细致模型的应变能、最大位移和等效泊松比, 对程序及迭代方法的准确性进行了验证. 之后对一种三元橡胶基复合材料进行多尺度均质化, 将其分为芯丝尺度和层间尺度. 用线弹性的均质化方法得到了芯丝尺度的等效弹性参数, 并将其作为层间尺度的材料参数. 在层间尺度应用非线性弹性均质化方法对结构进行计算, 得到材料的宏观等效性能, 并以实验结果为基准进行评价.      

Variational asymptotic micromechanics modeling of heterogeneous porous materials

This paper presents a numerical technique to predict the effective elastic properties of heterogeneous fluid-filled porous media where the heterogeneity may result from dissimilar solid and fluid phase properties or due to mismatch in porous microstructure. The technique is based on the variational asymptotic method of homogenization where finite element method is employed for discretization. Biot’s theory of poroelasticity is used to describe porous media where both solid and fluid phase motions (u ? U formulation) are considered with associated strain measures. The method estimates the poroelastic constitutive law in single analysis which makes it very efficient compared to other finite element based homogenization techniques. The method is also general enough to compute all 28 elements of an anisotropic constitutive matrix. Other than estimating the effective properties the micro-stress/strain distribution is also obtained at no additional cost.The method is successfully applied for homogenization of porous media, fluid-filled cavity and finally for effective property estimation of bone lamella. In absence of any other direct method of porous media homogenization, the present technique is compared with classical homogenization methods with fluid approximated as solid of very high Poisson’s ratio. The suitability of this approximation and various other alternatives are also discussed. It is shown that the present homogenization method can be an efficient tool for bone property estimation where fluid-filled porous hierarchical micro-/nanostructure must be respected at all steps.     

On thermoelastostatics of composites with nonlocal properties of constituents II. Estimation of effective material and field parameters

One considers a linear thermoelastic composite medium, which consists of a homogeneous matrix containing a statistically homogeneous random set of ellipsoidal uncoated or coated heterogeneities. It is assumed that the stress–strain constitutive relations of constituents are described by the nonlocal integral operators, whereas the equilibrium and compatibility equations remain unaltered as in classical local elasticity. The general integral equations connecting the stress and strain fields in the point being considered and the surrounding points are obtained. The method is based on a centering procedure of subtraction from both sides of a known initial integral equation their statistical averages obtained without any auxiliary assumptions such as, e.g., effective field hypothesis implicitly exploited in the known centering methods. In a simplified case of using of the effective field hypothesis for analyzing composites with one sort of heterogeneities, one proves that the effective moduli explicitly depend on both the strain and stress concentrator factor for one heterogeneity inside the infinite matrix and does not directly depend on the elastic properties (local or nonlocal) of heterogeneities. In such a case, the Levin’s (1967) formula in micromechanics of composites with locally elastic constituents is generalized to their nonlocal counterpart. A solution of a volume integral equation for one heterogeneity subjected to inhomogeneous remote loading inside an infinite matrix is proposed by the iteration method. The operator representation of this solution is incorporated into the new general integral equation of micromechanics without exploiting of basic hypotheses of classical micromechanics such as both the effective field hypothesis and “ellipsoidal symmetry” assumption. Quantitative estimations of results obtained by the abandonment of the effective field hypothesis are presented.     

A semi-analytical model for the behavior of saturated viscoplastic materials containing two populations of voids of different sizes

This paper presents a micromechanical model for a porous viscoplastic material containing two populations of pressurized voids of different sizes. Three scales are distinguished: the microscopic scale (corresponding to the size of the small voids), the mesoscopic scale (corresponding to the size of the large voids) and the macroscopic scale. It is assumed that the first homogenization step is performed at the microscopic scale, and, at the mesoscopic scale, the matrix is taken to be homogeneous and compressible. At the mesoscopic scale, the second homogenization step, on which the present study focuses, is based on a simplified representative volume element: a hollow sphere containing a pressurized void surrounded by a nonlinear viscoplastic compressible matrix. The nonlinear behavior of the matrix, which is expressed using the results obtained in the first homogenization step, is approached using a modified secant linearization procedure involving the discretization of the hollow sphere into concentric layers. Each layer has uniform secant moduli. The predictions of the model are compared with the more accurate numerical results obtained using the finite element method. Good agreement is found to exist with all the macroscopic stress triaxialities and all the porosity and nonlinearity values studied.     

Homogenization in non-linear dynamics due to frictional contact

This work is devoted to a study of the classical homogenization process and its influence on the behavior of a composite under non-linear dynamic loading due to contact and friction. First, the general problem of convergence of numerical models subjected to dynamic contact with friction loading is addressed. The use of a regularized friction law allows obtaining good convergence of such models. This study shows that for a dynamic contact with friction loading, the classical homogenization process, coupled with an homogenization of the frictional contact, enables replacing the entire heterogeneous model by a homogenized one. The dynamic part of the frictional contact must be homogenized by modifying the dynamic parameter of the friction law. Modification of the dynamic parameter of the friction law is function of the type and regime of instability. A calculation of a homogenized friction coefficient is presented in view to homogenizing the static part of the frictional contact when the friction coefficient is not constant over the contact surface. Finally matrix and heterogeneities stresses in the heterogeneous models are identified by using the relocalization process and a frictional contact dynamic analysis of a homogeneous model.     

New integral formulation and self-consistent modeling of elastic–viscoplastic heterogeneous materials

Predicting the overall behavior of heterogeneous materials, from their local properties at the scale of heterogeneities, represents a critical step in the design and modeling of new materials. Within this framework, an internal variables approach for scale transition problem in elastic–viscoplastic case is introduced. The proposed micromechanical model is based on establishing a new system of field equations from which two Navier’s equations are obtained. Combining these equations leads to a single integral equation which contains, on the one hand, modified Green operators associated with elastic and viscoplastic reference homogeneous media, and secondly, elastic and viscoplastic fluctuations. This new integral equation is thus adapted to self-consistent scale transition methods. By using the self-consistent approximation we obtain the concentration law and the overall elastic–viscoplastic behavior of the material. The model is first applied to the case of two-phase materials with isotropic, linear and compressible viscoelastic properties. Results for elastic–viscoplastic two-phase materials are also presented and compared with exact results and variational methods.     

Assessment of adaptive and heuristic time stepping for variably saturated flow

The performance of improved initial estimates and ‘heuristic’ and ‘adaptive’ techniques for time step control in the iterative solution of Richards equation is evaluated. The so‐called heuristic technique uses the convergence behaviour of the iterative scheme to estimate the next time step whereas the adaptive technique regulates the time step on the basis of an approximation of the local time truncation error. The sample problems used to assess these various schemes are characterized by nonuniform (in time) boundary conditions, sharp gradients in the infiltration fronts, and discontinuous derivatives in the soil hydraulic properties. It is found that higher order initial solution estimates improve the convergence of the iterative scheme for both the heuristic and adaptive techniques, with greater overall performance gains for the heuristic scheme, as could be expected. It is also found that the heuristic technique outperforms the adaptive method under strongly nonlinear conditions. Previously reported observations suggesting that adaptive techniques perform best when accuracy requirements on the numerical solution are very stringent are confirmed. Overall both heuristic and adaptive techniques have their limitations, and a more general or mixed time stepping strategy combining truncation error and convergence criteria is recommended for complex problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Un algorithme efficace d'intégration plastique pour un matériau obéissant au critère anisotrope de HillAn efficient algorithm for plastic integration of material satisfying the Hill's anisotropic yield criterion.

This Note deals with an efficient algorithm to carry out the plastic integration and compute the stresses due to large strains for materials satisfying the Hill's anisotropic yield criterion. The classical algorithm of plastic integration such as ‘Return Mapping Method’ is largely used for nonlinear analyses of structures and numerical simulations of forming processes, but it requires an iterative schema and may have convergence problems. A new direct algorithm based on a scalar method is developed which allows us to directly obtain the plastic multiplier without an iteration procedure; thus the computation time is largely reduced and the numerical problems are avoided. To cite this article: I. Titeux et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

A stabilized complementarity formulation for nonlinear analysis of 3D bimodular materials

Bi-modulus materials with different mechanical responses in tension and compression are often found in civil, composite, and biological engineering. Numerical analysis of bimodular materials is strongly nonlinear and convergence is usually a problem for traditional iterative schemes. This paper aims to develop a stabilized computational method for nonlinear analysis of 3D bimodular materials. Based on the parametric variational principle, a unified constitutive equa-tion of 3D bimodular materials is proposed, which allows the eight principal stress states to be indicated by three para-metric variables introduced in the principal stress directions. The original problem is transformed into a standard linear complementarity problem (LCP) by the parametric virtual work principle and a quadratic programming algorithm is developed by solving the LCP with the classic Lemke’s algo-rithm. Update of elasticity and stiffness matrices is avoided and, thus, the proposed algorithm shows an excellent conver-gence behavior compared with traditional iterative schemes. Numerical examples show that the proposed method is valid and can accurately analyze mechanical responses of 3D bimodular materials. Also, stability of the algorithm is greatly improved.     

Infinite-contrast periodic composites with strongly nonlinear behavior: Effective-medium theory versus full-field simulations

This paper presents a combined numerical-theoretical study of the macroscopic behavior and local field distributions in a special class of two-dimensional periodic composites with viscoplastic phases. The emphasis is on strongly nonlinear materials containing pores or rigid inclusions. Full-field numerical simulations are carried out using a fast Fourier transform algorithm [Moulinec, H., Suquet, P., 1994. A fast numerical method for computing the linear and nonlinear properties of composites. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris II 318, 1417–1423.], while the theoretical results are obtained by means of the ‘second-order’ nonlinear homogenization method [Ponte Castañeda, P., 2002. Second-order homogenization estimates for nonlinear composites incorporating field fluctuations. I. Theory. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 50, 737–757]. The effect of nonlinearity and inclusion concentration is investigated in the context of power-law (with strain-rate sensitivity m) behavior for the matrix phase under in-plane shear loadings. Overall, the ‘second-order’ estimates are found to be in good agreement with the numerical simulations, with the best agreement for the rigidly reinforced materials. For the porous systems, as the nonlinearity increases (m decreases), the strain field is found to localize along shear bands passing through the voids (the strain fluctuations becoming unbounded) and the effective stress exhibits a singular behavior in the dilute limit. More specifically, for small porosities and fixed nonlinearity $m>0$, the effective stress decreases linearly with increasing porosity. However, for ideally plastic behavior $(m=0)$, the dependence on porosity becomes non-analytic. On the other hand, for rigidly-reinforced composites, the strain field adopts a tile pattern with bounded strain fluctuations, and no singular behavior is observed (to leading order) in the dilute limit.     

Bridging micro to macroscale fracture properties in highly heterogeneous brittle solids: weak pinning versus fingering

The effect of strong toughness heterogeneities on the macroscopic failure properties of brittle solids is investigated in the context of planar crack propagation. The basic mechanism at play is that the crack is locally slowed down or even trapped when encountering tougher material. The induced front deformation results in a selection of local toughness values that reflect at larger scale on the material resistance. To unravel this complexity and bridge micro to macroscale in failure of strongly heterogeneous media, we propose a homogenization procedure based on the introduction of two complementary macroscopic properties: An apparent toughness defined from the loading required to make the crack propagate and an effective fracture energy defined from the rate of energy released by unit area of crack advance. The relationship between these homogenized properties and the features of the local toughness map is computed using an iterative perturbation method. This approach is applied to a circular crack pinned by a periodic array of obstacles invariant in the radial direction, which gives rise to two distinct propagation regimes: A weak pinning regime where the crack maintains a stationary shape after reaching an equilibrium position and a fingering regime characterized by the continuous growth of localized regions of the fronts while the other parts remain trapped. Our approach successfully bridges micro to macroscopic failure properties in both cases and illustrates how small scale heterogeneities can drastically affect the overall failure response of brittle solids. On a broader perspective, we believe that our approach can be used as a powerful tool for the rational design of heterogeneous brittle solids and interfaces with tailored failure properties.     

Micromechanical modeling of linear viscoelastic behavior of heterogeneous materials

Study of effective behavior of heterogeneous materials, starting from the properties of the microstructure, represents a critical step in the design and modeling of new materials. Within this framework, the aim of this work is to introduce a general internal variables approach for scale transition problem in linear viscoelastic case. A new integral formulation is established, based on the complete taking into account of field equations and differential constitutive laws of the heterogeneous problem, in which the effects of elasticity and viscosity interact in a representative volume element. Thanks to Green’s techniques applied to space convolution’s term, a new concentration relation is obtained. The step of homogenization is then carried out according to the self-consistent approximation. The results of the present model are illustrated and compared with those provided by Hashin’s and Rougier’s ones, considered as references, and by internal variables models such as those of Weng and translated fields.     

Numerical simulation of fiber reinforced composite materials––two procedures

In this work, two methodologies for the analysis of unidirectional fiber reinforced composite materials are presented.The first methodology used is a generalized anisotropic large strains elasto-plastic constitutive model for the analysis of multiphase materials. It is based on the mixing theory of basic substance. It is the manager of the several constitutive laws of the different compounds and it allows to consider the interaction between the compounds of the composite materials. In fiber reinforced composite materials, the constitutive behavior of the matrix is isotropic, whereas the fiber is considered orthotropic. So, one of the constitutive model used in the mixing theory needs to consider this characteristic. The non-linear anisotropic theory showed in this work is a generalization of the classic isotropic plasticity theory (A Continuum Constitutive Model to Simulate the Mechanical Behavior of Composite Materials, PhD Thesis, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, 2000). It is based in a one-to-one transformation of the stress and strain spaces by means of a four rank tensor.The second methodology used is based on the homogenization theory. This theory divided the composite material problem into two scales: macroscopic and microscopic scale. In macroscopic level the composite material is assuming as a homogeneous material, whereas in microscopic level a unit volume called cell represents the composite (Tratamiento Numérico de Materiales Compuestos Mediante la teorı́ de Homogeneización, PhD Thesis, Universidad Politécnica, de Cataluña 2001). This formulation presents a new viewpoint of the homogenization theory in which can be found the equations that relate both scales. The solution is obtained using a coupled parallel code based on the finite elements method for each scale problem.     

A methodology for an accurate evaluation of the linearization procedures in nonlinear mean field homogenization

A systematic methodology for the evaluation of the linearization procedures sustaining mean field homogenization theories for nonlinear composite materials is proposed and applied as an illustration to various recently proposed ‘affine’ and ‘second-order’ formulations for nonlinear elasticity. It relies on the analysis of composites for which both the exact nonlinear homogenization problem and the homogenization problem associated with the ‘linear comparison material’ defined by the linearization procedure can be solved numerically with the same accuracy and for the same microstructure. The comparison of the results then provides a rigorous evaluation of the effects of the sole linearization method. To cite this article: A. Rekik et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

基于参数化水平集方法的微结构拓扑优化设计

相比于单一材料,复合材料具有轻质高强等优点,拓扑优化方法是设计复合材料的方法之一.本文采用改进的参数化水平集方法,更新了水平集迭代格式,并应用水平集带方法在优化过程中引入中间密度,使水平集方法与变密度法无缝结合以改善水平集方法的拓扑寻优能力,降低其初始设计依赖性.本文以最大化体积模量、剪切模量和负泊松比作为材料设计目标...     

A homogenization-based constitutive model for isotropic viscoplastic porous media

An approximate model based on the “second-order” nonlinear homogenization method is proposed to estimate the effective behavior of isotropic, viscoplastic, porous materials. The model is constructed in such a way that it reproduces exactly the behavior of a “composite-sphere assemblage” in the limit of hydrostatic loadings, and therefore coincides with the hydrostatic limit of Gurson’s criterion in the special case of ideal plasticity. As a consequence, the new model improves on earlier homogenization estimates, which have been found to be quite accurate for low triaxialities but overly stiff for sufficiently high triaxialities and nonlinearities. Additionally, the estimates delivered by the model exhibit a dependence on the third invariant of the macroscopic stress tensor, which has a nontrivial effect on the effective response of the material at moderate triaxialities. The proposed model is compared with exact results obtained for a special class of porous materials with sequentially laminated microstructures. The agreement is found to be quite good for the entire range of stress triaxialities, and all values of the porosity and nonlinearity considered.     

Homogenization of the viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with multi-coated reinforcements: an internal variables formulation

In this work, a new homogenization method to estimate the effective behavior of viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with multi-coated reinforcements is presented. Unlike classical methods that are based on the Laplace transform, the present internal variables formulation operates directly in the time domain. Using the Green’s function techniques, the micromechanical approach is based on establishing a new integral equation adapted to scale transition methods. Using this integral equation, we apply a generalized self-consistent scheme to determine the local stress concentration equations and the effective behavior of multi-coated inclusion-reinforced materials. To assess the reliability of our model, some applications to the isotropic viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with homothetic spherical inclusions are given. The model is applied to the case of two-phase and three-phase materials, and the results are compared to exact solutions. Results for three-phase materials are presented regarding the influence of soft and stiff viscoelastic interphase on the effective behavior of heterogeneous materials.