B. Chiaia et al., LATTICE MODEL EVALUATION OF PROGRESSIVE FAILURE IN DISORDERED PARTICLE COMPOSITES, Engineering fracture mechanics, 57(2-3), 1997, pp. 301
Results from experimental and numerical investigation on the fractal p
roperties of particle composites are presented. Splitting tests on con
crete were carried out and the fractal dimension of the crack patterns
detected on microscope images was measured. Numerical simulations of
the tests were performed by means of a lattice model, and non-integer
dimensions were measured on the predicted lattice damage patterns. The
ability of the model to reproduce realistic statistical interactions
and self-organization in the propagation of the cracks is discussed. I
n particular, an increasing Hausdorff dimension was measured during da
mage development in the lattice network. It is concluded that, next to
the stable crack growth provided by fractality in disordered material
s, an optimal choice of the percentages of weak and strong microstruct
ural elements, together with their particle-like distribution, may lea
d to improved mechanical performance of the considered materials. (C)
1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.