Mesoscale Modeling of Porous Materials Using New Methodology for Fracture and Frictional Contact in the Material Point Method

Using a new damage-field gradient partitioning approach to fracture and frictional contact in the material point method (MPM) we have demonstrated a capability to produce mesh-independent predictions of particle size distribution in simulations of comminution of brittle materials. Here, we apply this new methodology to simulate damage and dynamic loading in mesoscale models of porous, heterogeneous materials. Simulations are validated against experimental data, and we discuss the advantages and limitations of this new methodology.