A new finite element framework for the modeling of ductile fracture mechanisms in heterogeneous microstructures.

Abstract : Ductile fracture has been studied for many years and has given rise to number of damage theories and failure criteria. However, predicting ductile fracture under complex loading path remains challenging, in particular for advanced heterogeneous materials for which failure mechanisms depend on microstructural properties such as particle characteristics (nature, shape and distribution), grains, and texture. Modeling failure at a mesoscale would help in the understanding of the role of these microstructural properties on ductile fracture mechanisms. Such a modeling requires an accurate numerical framework accounting for heterogeneous microstructure definition and meshing capabilities under large plastic strain as well as numerical methods for the modeling of failure events such as void nucleation –by interface debonding or particles failure –and coalescence.