Explicit dynamic fracture simulation of two-phase materials using a novel meso-structure modelling approach

Abstract In order to reduce the experimental cost and enable the numerical modelling better approaches the actual meso-structures of two-phase materials, a novel meso-scale modelling approach, combining the image-based and the parameterized modelling approaches, has been presented. In this approach, only limited samples of the studied two-phase material need to be provided for establishing an aggregate library, through which finite element models with different spatial distributions and volume fractions of aggregate can be arbitrarily generated for the use of virtual test. In the present virtual test, fracture failures were simulated in the framework of explicit dynamics. A rate-dependent cohesive zone model (CZM) was implemented through the user subroutines in ABAQUS to characterize the dynamic damage and fracture of the meso-structures. At the same time, an algorithm of embedding cohesive elements automatically into the potential damage zones was put forward. Finally, two typical numerical examples were given to verify these proposed methods and models, meanwhile the influences of spatial distribution and volume fraction of aggregate on the mechanical performance of the meso-structure were investigated. It can be validated that the present developed methods and models can effectively and efficiently characterize the dynamic fracture behavior of two-phase materials.