Modeling of fatigue crack in particle reinforced composites with Voronoi cell finite element method

The modeling of fatigue crack initiation and propagation for particulate reinforced composites is facilitated with new Voronoi cell finite element method (VCFEM), considering the matrix-inclusion interfacial fatigue crack and matrix fatigue crack. In the new element, all possible contacts on the crack edge are considered by remeshing method, when the crack is closing under all possible changing loads. The fatigue crack initiates when the fatigue damage exceeds certain critical damage value, and fatigue crack propagation are simulated by gradual seeking crack propagating directions and new crack tips, using a remeshing method that a damaged node at the crack tip is replaced by a pair of nodes, a new crack tip node is assigned at the crack propagating directions and a more pair of nodes are needed to be added on the crack edge near the crack tip in order to better facilitate the free-traction boundary condition. The comparison of the results of proposed VCFEM and commercial finite element packages MARC. An example has been given for Particle-reinforced metal-matrix composites with 20 elliptical inclusions to simulate the fatigue crack initiation and propagation under plane stress conditions. It appears that this method is a more efficient way to deal with the interfacial damage of composite materials. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Kunming University of Science and Technology