A mesomechanical approach to inhomogeneous particulate composites undergoing localized damage: part I - a mesodomain simulation

This paper presents a mesoscale homogenization methodology to deal with the damage localization in inhomogeneous particulate-reinforced composites. An effective local particle volume fraction, f(loc,eff)(v), which includes th e particle size effect is suggested to characterize the damage-inducing asp ect of clusters. The clustering regions in a particulate composite accommod ating the saturated local damage at an applied stress amplitude are simulat ed by mesodomains, subdomains of homogeneous medium and homogeneous damage distribution. The size of the mesodomains is determined by the transition c ondition from local damage to global damage via macro-mechanics. The mesodo main positions are found in a materials science manner by mapping the 'area contours' of f(loc,eff)(v) for the composite. Transformation of a clusteri ng composite into a two-homogeneous phase material enables one to appropria tely illustrate the local constitutive behaviours, and paves the way to pre dict saturated local damage life. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.