Effects of the progressive damage interphase on the effective bulk behavior of spherical particulate composites

This work aims at investigating the effect of the progressive damage interphase on the global bulk behavior of spherical particulate composites by proposing a nonlinear stress-strain relationship. To this end, first, the modeling of a damage interphase as a damage imperfect interface is briefly presented in a mathematically rigorous manner. The relationship between the proposed interface model and the classical cohesive model is also discussed and depicted by taking the example of the bilinear shape cohesive model. Second, the elastic fields of the problem where an infinite body made of a matrix containing a spherical particle with a damage interface under a remote uniform isotropic strain boundary condition are then provided in the framework of a Cartesian coordinate system, and the critical macroscopic strain boundary associated to the initial softening of the damage interface is determined. Third, with the aid of these results, the equivalent elastic properties of a perfectly bonded spherical particle related to an imperfectly damage bonded one in an infinite matrix are derived by the replacement procedure of equivalent inclusion with the requirement of energy equality. Finally, the effective bulk of the isotropic particulate composite is obtained by using the classical generalized self-consistent scheme; its global strength is also given, and their features are discussed through some numerical examples.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of progressive damage interphase on the overall behavior of spherical particulate composites by introducing a nonlinear stress-strain relationship. Through modeling and analysis, the critical macroscopic strain boundary associated with interface softening is determined, and the equivalent elastic properties of different bonding forms are derived. The global strength of the composite material is discussed through numerical examples.