Multi-scale constitutive model for a wood-inspired composite

✍ Scribed by E. I Saavedra Flores; M. SMurugan; M.I. Friswell; E. A de Souza Neto.

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 329 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1877-7058
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.595

✦ Synopsis

This paper proposes a fully coupled multi-scale finite element model for the mechanical description of a new composite material inspired in wood cell-walls. The constitutive response of the composite is described by means of a representative volume element (RVE) in which the fibre is represented as a periodic alternation of rigid and soft portions of material. Furthermore, at a lower scale the overall constitutive behavior of the fibre is modelled as a single material defined by a second RVE. Numerical tests demonstrate substantial gains in terms of resistance to failure, toughness and in the control of the overall flexibility/stiffness balance in the material.