P.P. Prochazka¹, M.J. Valek¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.87, No.3, pp. 207-224, 2012, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2012.087.207

Abstract In classical theories of homogenization and localization of composites the effect of shape of inclusions is not taken into account. This is probably done because of very small fibers in classical composites based on epoxy matrix. Applying more precise theoretical and numerical tools appears that the classical theories desire corrections in this direction. Today many types of materials their fiber are much bigger and with various material properties are used and behave as typical composites. They enable producers to create the fiber cross-sections and model them in various shapes, so that it is meaningful to carry out the optimization. In… More >

A.N. Guz¹, J.J.Rushchitsky¹, I.A.Guz²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.26, No.3, pp. 139-156, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.026.139

Abstract The basic approach is offered for problems of nanocomposites and their mechanical properties, which includes a short review of modern problems in nanomechanics of materials. The fibrous carbon-polymer composites with carbon or graphite microfibers or carbon nanotubes are especially discussed. The basic model of the linear or nonlinear elastically deforming micro- and nanocomposites is considered. Within the framework of this model, the comparative computer modeling is performed. The modeling permits to observe the features in prediction of values of basic mechanical constants. These results are utilized on next step of modeling -- studying the peculiarities of wave propagation in particular… More >

H. K. Ching^1,2, J. K. Chen²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 199-218, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2006.013.199

Abstract The Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method is a novel numerical approach similar to finite element methods, but it allows the construction of the shape function and domain discretization without defining elements. In this study, the MLPG analysis for transient thermomechanical response of a functionally graded composite heated by Gaussian laser beams is presented. The composite is modeled as a 2-D strip which consists of metal and ceramic phases with the volume fraction varying over the thickness. Two sets of the micromechanical models are employed for evaluating the effective material properties, respectively. Numerical results are presented for the thermomechanical responses in… More >

V.A. Buryachenko^1,2

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.85, No.5, pp. 417-446, 2012, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2012.085.417

Abstract We consider a linearly elastic composite medium, which consists of a homogeneous matrix containing a statistically homogeneous set of multimodal spherical inclusions modeling the morphology of heterogeneous solid propellants (HSP). Estimates of effective elastic moduli are performed using the multiparticle effective field method (MEFM) directly taking into account the interaction of different inclusions. Because of this, the effective elastic moduli of the HSP evaluated by the MEFM are sensitive to both the relative size of the inclusions (i.e., their multimodal nature) and the radial distribution functions (RDFs) estimated from experimental data, as well as from the ensembles generated by the… More >

V.A. Buryachenko^1,2, T.L. Jackson^2,3, G. Amadio³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.85, No.5, pp. 379-416, 2012, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2012.085.379

Abstract We consider a composite medium, which consists of a homogeneous matrix containing a statistically homogeneous set of multimodal spherical inclusions. This model is used to represent the morphology of heterogeneous solid propellants (HSP) that are widely used in the rocket industry. The Lubachevsky-Stillinger algorithm is used to generate morphological models of HSP with large polydisperse packs of spherical inclusions. We modify the algorithm by proposing a random shaking procedure that leads to the stabilization of a statistical distribution of the simulated structure that is homogeneous, highly mixed, and protocol independent (in sense that the statistical parameters estimated do not depend… More >

C.B. Du^1,2, S.Y Jiang², W. Qin³, Y.M. Zhang²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.81, No.3&4, pp. 229-248, 2011, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2011.081.229

Abstract A numerical analysis of concrete composites at the mesoscale based on three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology of X-ray computed tomography (CT) images is presented in this paper. For X-ray CT images of concrete, morphology processing was used to recover complete image information, including borders, and the median filtering method was applied to eliminate potential impurities in the images. The final X-ray CT images obtained after processing for a concrete section were composed of three-value pixels that indicated aggregate particles, mortar matrix and air voids, and the 3D structure of the concrete specimen was reconstructed using the volume data method. The mapping… More >

Lianhua Ma¹, Bernard F. Rolfe², Qingsheng Yang^1,3, Chunhui Yang^2,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.79, No.2, pp. 131-158, 2011, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2011.079.131

Abstract For fluid-filled closed cell composites widely distributed in nature, the configuration evolution and effective elastic properties are investigated using a micromechanical model and a multiscale homogenization theory, in which the effect of initial fluid pressure is considered. Based on the configuration evolution of the composite, we present a novel micromechanics model to examine the interactions between the initial fluid pressure and the macroscopic elasticity of the material. In this model, the initial fluid pressure of the closed cells and the corresponding configuration can be produced by applying an eigenstrain at the introduced fictitious stress-free configuration, and the pressure-induced initial microscopic… More >

Marco Dondero¹, Adrián P. Cisilino^1,2, J. Pablo Tomba¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.78, No.3&4, pp. 225-246, 2011, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2011.078.225

Abstract This paper introduces a numerical methodology for the design of random micro-heterogeneous materials with functionally graded effective thermal conductivities (ETC). The optimization is carried out using representative volume elements (RVEs), a parallel Genetic Algorithm (GA) as optimization method, and a Fast Multipole Boundary Element Method (FMBEM) for the evaluation of the cost function. The methodology is applied for the design of foam-like microstructures consisting of random distributions of circular insulated holes. The temperature field along a material sample is used as objective function, while the spatial distribution of the holes is the design variable. There are presented details of the… More >

J. Cugnoni¹, M. Galli²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.66, No.2, pp. 165-186, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2010.066.165

Abstract With the progress of miniaturization, in many modern applications the characteristic dimensions of the physical volume occupied by particle-reinforced composites are getting comparable with the reinforcement size and many of those composite materials undergo plastic deformations. In both experimental and modelling contexts, it is therefore very important to know whether, and up to which characteristic size, the description of the composites in terms of effective, homogenized properties is sufficiently accurate to represent their response in the actual geometry. Herein, the case of particle-reinforced composites with elastoviscoplastic matrix materials and polyhedral randomly arranged linear elastic reinforcement is considered since it is… More >

Binxin Yang¹, Jie Ouyang¹, Tao Jiang¹, Chuntai Liu²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.63, No.3, pp. 191-222, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2010.063.191

Abstract A gas-solid-liquid three-phase model is proposed for fiber reinforced composites mold filling process. The fluid flow is described in Eulerian coordinate while the dynamics of fibers is described in Langrangian coordinate. The interaction of fluid flow and fibers are enclosed in the model. The influence of fluid flow on fibers is described by the resultant forces imposed on fibers and the influence of fibers on fluid flow is described by the momentum exchange source term in the model. A finite volume method coupled with a level set method for viscoelastic-Newtonian fluid flow is used to solve the model. The direct… More >