Experimental and numerical analysis of microstructure damage in silica filled epoxy

In order to better understand the cracking phenomena of epoxy resin there is a need to investigate microstructural damage. The work presented in this paper includes both experimental and numerical analysis of microstructure crack initiation and propagation in silica filled epoxy. Basic information about epoxy resin-based systems and its applications are presented. Next, basics of the fracture mechanics with description of available numerical approaches are described. The numerical simulations were prepared for Representative Volume Element (RVE) which was obtained using home-made tool for image digitalization. Experimental analysis consist of in-situ tensile tests and microstructural observations with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). At the end a summary with conclusions related with prepared numerical analysis and experiments is included. The presented research of the damage of silica/epoxy composite confirms that analysis of the epoxy resin microstructural damage is not trivial and further study is required for its better understanding.