Simulation and assessment of crack behaviour in discontinuously reinforced composite materials

摘要

The interaction between a crack and hard phase particles in adiscontinuously reinforced composite material is examined bysimulation. In particular, the effects of the hard phase on theenergy release rate and crack trajectory are studied for simplifiedsystems. The simulation is achieved using a 'dual' boundary integralmethod, coupled with a maximum energy release rate criterion fordetermining the direction of crack propagation.