Particle modeling of random crack patterns in epoxy plates

This paper employs particle modeling for simulation of dynamic fragmentation in (elastic-brittle) epoxy plates (8.25 cm x 33.02 cm), containing non-uniformly distributed circular holes [Al-Ostaz A, Jasiuk I. Crack initiation and propagation in materials with randomly distributed holes. Eng Fract Mech 1997;58:395-420]. Since the experiments on nominally identical specimens resulted in a range of different crack patterns, the model focuses on matching the most dominant experimentally observed cracks. Indeed, this is achieved with lattices having several different mesh resolutions. Next, by introducing very weak, microscale perturbations in the material properties, it is found that the stiffness has a stronger effect on the deviation from the dominant crack pattern than does the tensile strength. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.