Fracture properties prediction of clay/epoxy nanocomposites with interphase zones using a phase field model

•A phase field model for fracture in heterogeneous structure.•A hybrid hierarchical/concurrent multiscale method for fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•A phase field model for matrix and interphase fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•Extraction of fracture related material properties for vari...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Engineering fracture mechanics 2018-02, Vol.188, p.287-299
Main Authors: Msekh, Mohammed A., Cuong, N.H., Zi, G., Areias, P., Zhuang, X., Rabczuk, Timon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brittle fracture
Brittleness
Clay
Dissipation
Epoxy coatings
Finite element method
Fracture mechanics
Fracture toughness
Interphase zone
Mathematical models
Mechanical properties
Modulus of elasticity
Nanocomposites
Phase field model
Platelets (materials)
Polymer layered silicate
Polymer matrix composites
Polymer nanocomposite
Strain energy release rate
Tensile strength
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•A phase field model for fracture in heterogeneous structure.•A hybrid hierarchical/concurrent multiscale method for fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•A phase field model for matrix and interphase fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•Extraction of fracture related material properties for various input parameters, particularly for the interphase zone. We predict the macroscopic tensile strength and fracture toughness of fully exfoliated nano silicate clay epoxy composites accounting for the interphase behavior between the polymeric matrix and clay reinforcement. A phase field approach is employed to model fracture in the matrix and the interphase zone of the polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) while the stiff clay platelets are considered as linear elastic material. The effect of the interphase zones, e.g. thickness and mechanical properties (Young’s modulus and strain energy release rate) on the tensile strength, and fracture parameters of the composite is studied in detail. The dissipation energy due to fracture in the PNCs is extracted for different thicknesses and properties of the interphase zones. We show through numerical experiments that the interphase thickness has the most influence on the tensile strength while the critical strain energy release rate of the interphase zones affects the dissipation energy depending on the interphase zone thickness.
ISSN:0013-7944
1873-7315
DOI:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.08.002