Damage as the Γ-limit of microfractures in linearized elasticity under the non-interpenetration constraint

A homogenization result is given for a material with brittle periodic inclusions, under the requirement that the interpenetration of matter is forbidden. According to the ratio between the softness of the inclusions and the size of the microstucture, three different limit models are deduced via Gamma-convergence. In particular it is shown that in the limit the non-interpenetration constraint breaks the symmetry between states where the material is in extension and in compression.