Simulation of damage evolution in discontinously reinforced metal matrix composites: a phase-field model

In this study, a phase-field model is introduced to model the damage evolution, due to particle cracking in reinforced composites in which matrix deformation is described by an elastic-plastic constitutive law exhibiting linear hardening behavior. In order to establish the viability of the algorithm, the simulations are carried out for crack extension from a square hole in isotropic elastic solid under the complex loading path, and composites having the same volume fraction of reinforcements with two different particle sizes. The observed cracking patterns and development of the stress-strain curves agree with the experimental observations and previous numerical studies. The algorithm offers significant advantages to describe the microstructure and topological changes associated with the damage evolution in comparison to conventional simulation algorithms, due to the absence of formal meshing.