Multi-scale genome modeling for predicting fracture strength of silicon carbide ceramics

The variational asymptotic method for unit cell homogenization (VAMUCH) has emerged as a general purpose micromechanics approach capable of predicting the effective properties of heterogeneous materials and recovering the local fields. In this study, a novel micromechanics approach has been developed enabling VAMUCH to homogenize heterogeneous microstructure and predict its crack formation through a multi-scale materials genome model. A variational form for homogenization is formulated in combination with a cohesive zone model. The weak form of the problem is derived using an asymptotic method, discretized using finite element formulations, and implemented into VAMUCH. The advantages of the present approach are demonstrated through homogenizing silicon carbide ceramics and predicting its fracture strength. Both the elastic properties and fracture strength can be predicted in a computationally efficient manner using this approach compared with the multi-scale finite element model.

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