Numerical Simulation of Microcrack Toughening in Particulate Composite

The crack tip region in an elastic composite can be divided into three different zones. The constitutive equations corresponding to these zones and the extent of the saturated damage zones are derived. The damage isotropy in the largest saturated damage zone is expressed by utilizing the Monte Carlo technique to create uniform distribution microcracks. The interaction between the main crack and microcracks can be evaluated by an alternating iteration scheme. In the assumption of a dilute concentration of microcracks, the interaction among microcracks is neglected, and the stress intensity factor produced by interaction between the main crack and each microcrack can be superposed. Two sources of loading are analyzed: one is for the main crack microcrack interaction under an applied remote load, and the other is for the main crack microcrack interaction accompanied by the relief of residual stresses on the microcrack surfaces. The results show that two sources of loading can shield the main crack tip, and microcracks behind the main crack tip can create the most shielding whereas the micro cracks ahead of the main crack tip play no role in shielding.