Multiscale simulation of fracture in

quasi-brittle mixtures

Keyvan Zare Rami, 2018

 Multiscale Fracture Simulation
Void growth model

Andersson, H., Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids (1977)

Cell Model
• The cell is the smallest material unit that has sufficient information
about crack growth in the material

Broberg, K. B., Computational Mechanics (1997) 2

 Two-way Linked Multiscale Simulation
• System is divided into two length-scale: Global scale and Local scale
• Each length-scales will be solved separately
• The length-scales are linked through homogenization principles

Homogenize properties Apply stress or strain to RVE

Global scale

Local scale
Solve RVE under boundary condition

3
How to Deal with Macroscale Crack?

Failure of RVE macrocrack in structure

4
 Crack Simulation at Global scale
New boundary
• Node decoupling

Splitting path
• Element splitting New boundary

• Element Elimination
Disconnected node
New boundary

5
Implementation of Crack Simulation at Global
Scale
Form global-scale
initial BVP

Solve global-scale
BVP
Apply global-scale
displacement solution to
local-scale BVP

Repeated over global FEs linked to RVE

Solve local-scale BVP

Is RVE failed?
Yes No
Remove or split
Homogenize local-
global-scale failed
scale solution
element

Renumbering the Update global-scale

FE mesh properties

Reconstruct BC

Yes
Next time step?
No
End 6
Application on Cementitious Paste

7
 Conclusion

• This approach provides a capability of using larger length-scale

testing result, which are usually more feasible to obtain, to
characterize smaller length-scale properties indirectly by linking
between different length-scales.

• It provides opportunities to investigate the effect of smaller length-

scale heterogeneity on larger length-scale performance of
materials.

8
Contact

keyvan.zare@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/keyvan-zare