Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
500048 | Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering | 2006 | 14 Pages |
Interfacial damage nucleation and evolution in reinforced elastomers is modeled using a three-dimensional updated Lagrangian finite element formulation based on the perturbed Petrov–Galerkin method for the treatment of nearly incompressible behavior. The progressive failure of the particle–matrix interface is modeled by a cohesive law accounting for mode mixity. The meso-scale is characterized by a unit cell, which contains particles dispersed in a homogenized blend. A new, fully implicit and efficient finite element formulation, including consistent linearization, is presented. The proposed finite element model is capable of predicting the non-homogeneous meso-fields and damage nucleation and propagation along the particle–matrix interface. Simple deformations involving an idealized solid rocket propellant are considered to demonstrate the algorithm.