Elastic behavior of composites containing Boolean random sets of inhomogeneities

The overall mechanical response as well as strain and stress field statistics of an heterogeneous material made of two randomly distributed, linear elastic phases, are investigated numerically, The Boolean model of spheres is used to generate microstructures consisting of either porous or rigid inclusions, at any volume fraction of the phases. Stress and strain field integral ranges, or equivalently the representative volume element, are computed and linked to features of the field statistics, and to the microstructure geometry. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.