Modeling and Simulation of Crack Initiation and Growth in Particulate Composites

A micro/macromechanical approach was used to model and simulate crack initiation and crack propagation in particulate composite structures. The approach used both the micromechanical and macromechanical analyses in tandem. The micromechanical analysis was based on a simplified micromechanical model and damage mechanics at the micro-level, and the macromechanical analysis utilized the finite element method. In using these methods, crack initiation and growth in a general shape of composite structure were investigated with an efficient computational effort. It was assumed that a crack initiates and/or propagates when localized damage is saturated. As a result, the crack length was assumed to be the size of the saturated damage zone. Matrix crack initiation and propagation at circular notch tips were simulated using this approach. Modeling and simulation were also conducted for cases of nonuniform particle distribution in particulate composite structures. Predicted results showed a good agreement with the experimental data.