A computational homogenization approach for limit analysis of heterogeneous materials

The macroscopic strength domain and failure mode of heterogeneous or composite materials can be quantitatively determined by solving an auxiliary limit analysis problem formulated on a periodic representative volume element. In this paper, a novel numerical procedure based on kinematic theorem and homogenization theory for limit analysis of periodic composites is developed. The total velocity fields, instead of fluctuating ( periodic) velocity, at microscopic level are approximated by finite elements, ensuring that the resulting optimization problem is similar to the limit analysis problem formulated for structures, except for additional constraints, which are periodic boundary conditions and averaging relations. The optimization problem is then formulated in the form of a standard second-order cone programming problem to be solved by highly efficient solvers. Effects of loading condition, representative volume element architecture, and fiber/air void volume fraction on the macroscopic strength of perforated and fiber reinforced composites are studied in numerical examples. Copyright (C) 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.