Micromechanics

About: Micromechanics is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 6000 publications have been published within this topic receiving 162635 citations.

Deterministic material-based averaging theory model of collagen gel micromechanics.

Abstract: Mechanics of collagen gels, like that of many tissues, is governed by events occurring on a length scale much smaller than the functional scale of the material. To deal with the challenge of incorporating deterministic micromechanics into a continuous macroscopic model, we have developed an averaging-theory-based modeling framework for collagen gels. The averaging volume, which is constructed around each integration point in a macroscopic finite-element model, is assumed to experience boundary deformations homogeneous with the macroscopic deformation field, and a micromechanical problem is solved to determine the average stress at the integration point. A two-dimensional version was implemented with the microstructure modeled as a network of nonlinear springs, and 500 segments were found to be sufficient to achieve statistical homogeneity. The method was then used to simulate the experiments of Tower et al. (Ann. Biomed. Eng., 30, pp. 1221-1233) who performed uniaxial extension of prealigned collagen gels. The simulation captured many qualitative features of the experiments, including a toe region and the realignment of the fibril network during extension. Finally, the method was applied to an idealized wound model based on the characterization measurements of Bowes et al. (Wound Repair Regen., 7, pp. 179-186). The model consisted of a strongly aligned "wound" region surrounded by a less strongly aligned "healthy" region. The alignment of the fibrils in the wound region led to reduced axial strains, and the alignment of the fibrils in the healthy region, combined with the greater effective stiffness of the wound region, caused rotation of the wound region during uniaxial stretch. Although the microscopic model in this study was relatively crude, the multiscale framework is general and could be employed in conjunction with any microstructural model.

Influence of Martensite Mechanical Properties on Failure Mode and Ductility of Dual-Phase Steels

Abstract: The effects of the mechanical properties of the martensite phase on the failure mode and ductility of dual-phase (DP) steels are investigated using a micromechanics-based finite element method. Actual microstructures of DP steels obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used as representative volume elements (RVEs) in the finite element calculations. Ductile failure of the RVE is predicted as plastic strain localization during the deformation process. Systematic computations are conducted on the RVE to quantitatively evaluate the influence of the martensite mechanical properties and volume fraction on the macroscopic mechanical properties of DP steels. These properties include the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), ultimate ductility, and failure modes. The computational results show that, as the strength and volume fraction of the martensite phase increase, the UTS of DP steels increases, but the UTS strain and failure strain decrease. In addition, shear-dominant failure modes usually develop for DP steels with lower martensite strengths, whereas split failure modes typically develop for DP steels with higher martensite strengths. The methodology and data presented in this article can be used to tailor DP steel design for its intended purposes and desired properties.

Scale bridging method to characterize mechanical properties of nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposites

Abstract: Multiscale analysis to characterize the size effect of silica nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposites is developed and verified through a molecular dynamics simulation and continuum micromechanics model. In the micromechanics model, the particle-matrix interface mechanical property is incorporated, and the thickness and elastic properties of the interface are extracted from the atomistic structures. The proposed multiscale micromechanics model accurately reflects the size effect of the nanoparticle. The prediction by the current multiscale model at various volume fractions is compared to the results of the molecular dynamics simulations in order to validate the present multiscale analysis model.