Advanced numerical method for generation of three-dimensional particles and its application in microstructure-based simulation of fatigue behavior

The topology of representative elementary volumes (REV) generated to model materials microstructure is getting more and more complex. This paper presents advanced mesh generation methods used to improve the description of 3D microstructural particles. The goal is to adapt easily the shape of the elements at the interface between the isotropic matrix and embedded inclusions. Two methods are described in this work to generate inclusions: an analytical method based on statistical experimental data and a reconstruction approach, based on tomographic imaging. Sensitivity analyses on meshing parameters are performed to obtain efficient data in order to reconstruct the most representative volume and to perform subsequent accurate numerical computations. As an example of calculations, fatigue tests are chosen to validate the proposed approach. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.