A multiscale mean-field homogenization method for fiber-reinforced composites with gradient-enhanced damage models

In this work, a gradient-enhanced homogenization procedure is proposed for fiber reinforced materials. In this approach, the fibers are assumed to remain linear elastic while the matrix material is modeled as elasto-plastic coupled with a damage law described by a non-local constitutive model. Toward this end, the mean-field homogenization is based on the knowledge of the macroscopic deformation tensors, internal variables and their gradients, which are applied to a micro-structural representative volume element (RVE). The macro-stress is then obtained from a homogenization procedure. The methodology holds for 2-phase composites with moderate fiber volume ratios, and for which, at the RVE size, the matrix can be considered as homogeneous isotropic and the ellipsoidal fibers can be considered as homogeneous transversely isotropic. Under these assumptions, the method is successfully applied to simulate the damage process occurring in unidirectional carbon-fiber reinforced epoxy composites submitted to different loading conditions.

► This work develops a mean-field homogenization method accounting for damage. ► An implicit non-local approach avoids localization issues at strain softening. ► This approach is found to be accurate for UD composites with moderate fiber ratios.