Strength homogenization of matrix-inclusion composites using the linear comparison composite approach

A homogenization procedure to estimate the macroscopic strength of nonlinear matrix-inclusion composites with different strength characteristics of the matrix and inclusions, respectively, is presented in this paper. The strength up-scaling is formulated within the framework of the yield design theory and the linear comparison composite (LCC) approach, introduced by Ponte Castaneda (2002) and extended to frictional models by Ortega et al. (2011), which estimates the macroscopic strength of composite materials in terms of an optimally chosen linear thermo–elastic comparison composite with a similar underlying microstructure. In the paper various combinations for the underlying material behavior for the individual phases of the composite are considered: The matrix phase can be a quasi frictional material characterized either by a Drucker–Prager-type (hyperbolic) or an elliptical strength criterion, which predicts a strength limit also in hydrostatic compression, while the inclusion phase either may represent empty pores, pore voids filled with a pore fluid, rigid inclusions, or solid inclusions, whose strength characteristics also maybe described by a Drucker–Prager-type or an elliptical strength criterion. For generating the homogenized strength criterion efficiently in such general cases of matrix-inclusion composites, a novel algorithm is proposed in the paper. The validation of the proposed strength homogenization procedure for selected combinations of strength characteristics of the matrix material and the inclusions is conducted by comparisons with experimental results and alternative existing strength homogenization models.