A mesomechanical approach to inhomogeneous particulate composite undergoing localized damage: part II - theory and application

A mesomechanical framework for localized damage law in inhomogeneous partic ulate-reinforced metal matrix composites (PMMCs) is developed through a mes odomain simulation methodology in Part I. The average local stress-strain o f mesodomains is derived by Eshelby's strain transformation method. The loc al damage rate in mesodomains is expressed in terms of local strain energy density of the subdomains. The overall weighting of local damage is then ob tained by taking its spatial average over the entire domain. A finite eleme nt model of mesodomains undergoing localized damage reveals that the global damage factor is proportional to the local damage and the mesodomain's vol ume fraction. This holds until the plastic strain spreads into a macroscopi c scale. An application of this mesomechanical damage theory is presented t o predict the localized damage life of PMMCs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.