Multiple scale computational model for damage in composite materials

In this paper, a hierarchical multiple scale computational model is propose d to concurrently predict evolution of variables at the structural and micr ostructural scales, as well as to track the incidence and propagation of mi crostructural damage. The microscopic analysis is conducted with the Vorono i cell finite element model (VCFEM) while a conventional displacement based FEM code executes the macroscopic analysis. Adaptive schemes and mesh refi nement strategies are developed to create a hierarchy of computational sub- domains with varying resolution. Such hierarchy allow for differentiation b etween non-critical and critical regions, and help in increasing the effici ency of computations through preferential 'zoom in' regions. Coupling betwe en the scales for regions with periodic microstructure is accomplished thro ugh asymptotic homogenization, whereas regions of nonuniformity and non-per iodicity are modeled by true microstructural analysis with VCFEM. Various n umerical examples are executed for validating the effectiveness of the mode l for different microstructural configurations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S .A. All rights reserved.