Multi-Scale Analysis of Fretting Fatigue in Heterogeneous Materials Using Computational Homogenization

This paper deals with modeling of the phenomenon of fretting fatigue in heterogeneous materials using the multi-scale computational homogenization technique and finite element analysis(FEA).The heterogeneous material for the specimens consists of a single hole model(25% void/cell,16% void/cell and 10% void/cell)and a four-hole model(25%void/cell).Using a representative volume element(RVE),we try to produce the equivalent homogenized properties and work on a homogeneous specimen for the study of fretting fatigue.Next,the fretting fatigue contact problem is performed for 3 new cases of models that consist of a homogeneous and a heterogeneous part(single hole cell)in the contact area.The aim is to analyze the normal and shear stresses of these models and compare them with the results of the corresponding heterogeneous models based on the Direct Numerical Simulation(DNS)method.Finally,by comparing the computational time and%deviations,we draw conclusions about the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed method.

A study on equivalence of nonlinear energy dissipation between first-order computational homogenization(FOCH)and re duce d-order homogenization(ROH)methods

Nowadays,studies on the mechanism of macro-scopic nonlinear behavior of materials by accumulation of micro-scopic degradation are attracting more attention from researchers.Among numerous approaches,multiscale methods have been proved as powerful and practical approaches in predicting macro-scopic material status by averaging and homogenizing physical information from associated micro-scopic mate-rial behavior.Usually in mechanical problem,the stress,consistent material modulus,and possible mate-rial state variables are quantities in interest through the upscaling process.However,the energy-related quantities are not studied much.Some initiative work has been done in the early year including but not limited to the Hill-Mandel condition in multiscale framework,which gives that the macro-scopic elastic strain energy density can be computed by volumetric averaging of that in the micro-scale.However,in the nonlinear analysis,the energy dissipation is an important quantity to measure the degradation status.In this manuscript,two typical multiscale methods,the first-order computational homogenization(FOCH)and reduced-order homogenization(ROH),are adopted to numerically analyze a fiber-reinforced compos-ite material with capability in material nonlinearity.With numerical experiments,it can be shown that energy dissipation is the same for both approaches.

Computational multiscale methods for granular materials

The fine-scale heterogeneity of granular material is characterized by its polydisperse microstructure with randomness and no periodicity. To predict the mechanical response of the material as the microstructure evolves, it is demonstrated to develop computational multiscale methods using discrete particle assembly-Cosserat continuum modeling in micro- and macro- scales,respectively. The computational homogenization method and the bridge scale method along the concurrent scale linking approach are briefly introduced. Based on the weak form of the Hu-Washizu variational principle, the mixed finite element procedure of gradient Cosserat continuum in the frame of the second-order homogenization scheme is developed. The meso-mechanically informed anisotropic damage of effective Cosserat continuum is characterized and identified and the microscopic mechanisms of macroscopic damage phenomenon are revealed. c 2013 The Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. [doi： 10.1063/2.1301101]

A Multiscale Method for Damage Analysis of Quasi-Brittle Heterogeneous Materials

A novel multiscale algorithm based on the higher-order continuum at both micro-and macrostructural level is proposed for the consideration of the quasi-brittle damage response of heterogeneous materials.Herein,the microlevel damage is modelled by the degradation of the homogenized stress and tangent stiffness tensors,which are then upscaled to govern the localization at the macrolevel.The C^1 continuity finite element employing a modified case of Mindlin’s form II strain energy density is derived for the softening analysis.To the authors’knowledge,the finite element discretization based on the strain gradient theory is applied for the modeling of damage evolution at the microstructural level for heterogeneous materials for the first time.The advantage of the novel C1 finite element formulation in comparison with the standard finite element discretization in terms of the regularization efficiency as well as the objectivity has been shown.An isotropic damage law is used for the reduction of the constitutive and nonlocal material behaviour,which is necessary for the physically correct description of the localization formation in quasi-brittle materials.The capabilities of the derived finite element to capture the fully developed localization zones are tested on a random representative volume element(RVE)for several different loading cases.By employing the conventional second-order computational homogenization,the microstructural material constitutive response is averaged over the whole RVE area.In order to model the loss of structural integrity when sharp localization is formed across RVE,the specific conditions which detect a completely formed localization zone are developed.A new failure criterion at the microstructural level has been proposed.The derived finite element formulation,as well as the multiscale damage algorithm,are implemented into the finite element program ABAQUS.The capabilities of the presented multiscale scheme to capture the effects of the deformation localization are demonstrated by few benchmark numerical examples.

Effect of functionally-graded interphase on the elasto-plastic behavior of nylon-6/clay nanocomposites;a numerical study

In nanocomposites,the interphase thickness may be comparable to the size of nano-particles,and hence,the effect of interphase layers on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites may be substantial.The interphase thickness to the nano-particle size ratio and properties variability across the interphase thickness are the most important affecting parameters on the overall behavior of nanocomposites.In this study,the effect of properties variability across the interphase thickness on the overall elastic and elastoplastic properties of a polymeric clay nanocomposite(PCN)using a functionally graded(FG)interphase is investigated in detail.The results of the computational homogenization on the mesoscopic level show that Young’s modulus variation of the interphase has a significant effect on the overall elastic response of nanocomposites in a higher clay weight ratio(Wt).Moreover,strength variation through the interphase has a notable effect on the elasto-plastic properties of PCNs.Also,the increase or decrease in stiffness of interphase from clay to matrix and vice versa have a similar effect in the overall behavior of nanocomposites.