The Parametric High-Fidelity-Generalized-Method-of-Cells with phase-field damage micromechanical model for heterogeneous composites

A new coupled micromechanical-damage formulation is presented by directly integrating the phase-field (PF) modeling approach for fracture and damage with the Parametric High-Fidelity-Generalized-Method-of-Cells (PHFGMC) micromechanical model. The combined PHFGMC-PF approach is proposed for progressive damage analysis of multi-phase heterogeneous composites with evolving microstructure subject to general multi-axial remote loading. New variational equations are introduced to couple the macro/micro deformation and PF variables of the discrete finite volumes (subcells). An iterative computational formulation is also presented for the numerical solution of the overall nonlinear equations. The proposed approach can accommodate various phase-field damage models and fracture energy approximations. Two PF damage laws, available in the literature, are implemented. The proposed PHFGMC-PF model verification is first accomplished by solving the single-edge crack problem under tension and shear and comparing the results to a finite element PF (FE-PF) analysis. Results of the presented case studies demonstrate a comparable ability of the PHFGMC-PF to solve similar FE-PF non-periodic problems. Applications are presented for progressive damage of carbon-fiber-reinforced (CRP) composites. The PHFGMC-PF in-situ elastic and fracture properties are calibrated for the carbon-reinforced polymer IM7/977-3 composite material system at the fiber–interface–matrix constituents. The micromechanics-PF model can capture the composite overall nonlinear mechanical and damage responses compared to experimental data.