Simulation study on the avalanche process of the mixed brittle–plastic fiber bundle model

• The mixed brittle–plastic fiber bundle model in local load sharing is simulated.
• The impacts of plastic fibers on the fracture properties are investigated.
• The introduction of plastic fibers will hinder the brittle fracture process.

The mixed brittle–plastic fiber bundle model is an extension model based on the classical fiber bundle model to describe the nonbrittle failure process of some hierarchical structure materials such as spider silk. In order to explore the breaking dynamic properties of the hierarchical structure materials in short-range correlation, the mixed brittle–plastic fiber bundle model in local load sharing condition is detailed and numerically studied. The impacts of the proportion of plastic fibers and the plastic strength of a single plastic fiber on the macroscopic constitutive behavior, the avalanche size distribution and the step number of the external load increasing are investigated, respectively. The numerical results show that the insert of plastic fibers will hinder the brittle fracture process; as a result, both the macroscopic mechanical natures and the statistical properties of fracture are significantly influenced.