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A micromechanical fracture analysis to investigate the effect of healing particles on the overall mechanical response of a self‐healing particulate composite
Author(s) -
Ponnusami Sathiskumar A.,
Krishnasamy Jayaprakash,
Turteltaub Sergio,
Zwaag Sybrand
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1460-2695
pISSN - 8756-758X
DOI - 10.1111/ffe.12929
Subject(s) - materials science , composite number , composite material , microstructure , fracture (geology) , particle (ecology) , finite element method , particulates , fracture mechanics , self healing , structural engineering , engineering , ecology , oceanography , biology , geology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
A computational fracture analysis is conducted on a self‐healing particulate composite employing a finite element model of an actual microstructure. The key objective is to quantify the effects of the actual morphology and the fracture properties of the healing particles on the overall mechanical behaviour of the (MoSi 2 ) particle‐dispersed Yttria Stabilised Zirconia (YSZ) composite. To simulate fracture, a cohesive zone approach is utilised whereby cohesive elements are embedded throughout the finite element mesh allowing for arbitrary crack initiation and propagation in the microstructure. The fracture behaviour in terms of the composite strength and the percentage of fractured particles is reported as a function of the mismatch in fracture properties between the healing particles and the matrix as well as a function of particle/matrix interface strength and fracture energy. The study can be used as a guiding tool for designing an extrinsic self‐healing material and understanding the effect of the healing particles on the overall mechanical properties of the material.