Arm iterative method for coupling of deformation and failure mechanisms ondifferent length scales

An iterative method for coupling of numerical simulations on two length sca les is presented. The computations on the microscale and on the macroscale are linked via a suitable macroscopic constitutive law. The parameters of t his material law depend on the deformation history and are obtained from si mulations using microstructurally representative volume elements (RVEs) sub jected to strain paths derived from the associated material points in the m acroscopic structure. Thus, different constitutive parameter sets are assig ned to different regions of the macrostructure. The microscopic and macrosc opic simulations are performed iteratively and interact mutually via the st rain paths and the constitutive parameters, respectively. As an example, th e strip tension test for a porous material is modelled using the finite ele ment (FE) method; The coupling procedure, the material law and its numerica l implementation are described. The method is shown to allow for a detailed simulation of the deformation mechanisms both on the micro- and the macros cale as well as for an assessment of their interactions while keeping the c omputational efforts reasonably low. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.