Homogenization estimates for multi-scale nonlinear composites

This work is concerned with the generalization of the “variational linear comparison” method of Ponte Castañeda (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 39 (1991) 45)) to multi-scale, random, heterogeneous material systems with nonlinear isotropic constituents. This method has the distinguishing feature of allowing the conversion of bounds or estimates that might be available for linear systems into corresponding bounds or estimates for the nonlinear composites of interest. Furthermore, the method is fairly simple to implement and quite general. General estimates are developed for two-scale systems and applied to various model composites with “particulate” and “granular” micro- and meso-structures, and compared with the corresponding results for their single-scale counterparts. It is found that the way that the material heterogeneity is distributed at the two separate scales can in most cases have a significant effect on the macroscopic behavior of the composite system.

► General homogenization estimates are developed for multi-scale nonlinear composites. ► Specific results are given for various two-scale, rigidly reinforced sub-structures. ► The effect of the two-scale character of the heterogeneity is found to be significant. ► For example, a shift in the percolation limit is observed for granular composites.