Research project in a nutshell

Among the many existing composite materials, those reinforced with short fibers (e.g. glass or carbon, in a polymer matrix) can be made, for example, by injection or extrusion of reinforced filaments for 3D printing (Figure 1). These fast-growing reinforced filaments can be derived from recycled “long-fibre” composites used extensively in aeronautics and other applications [1].

To design parts made of such materials, it is necessary to determine the material’s effective behavior, i.e. its macroscopic response when subjected to stresses (thermal, mechanical, etc.) at the part scale, which is much larger than the microstructure scale.

Mean-field models [2] enable rapid estimation of the effective properties of a composite based on a representative image or statistical description of its microstructure. In particular, the spatial distribution of fibers, resulting from the manufacturing process, can be taken into account thanks to advanced models such as the Ponte-Casteñeda and Willis (PCW) model [4], or the IDD model proposed by [3] and gives a “unified” formulation [2] incorporating other models.

In this context, the project aims to determine the best calibration of these models from an image or statistical descriptors of a microstructure.

[1] A. Rahimizadeh, J. Kalman, K. Fayazbakhsh and L. Lessard. Mechanical and thermal study of 3D printing composite filaments from wind turbine waste, Polymer Composites 42, 2305–2316, 2021

[2] Hessman, P. A.; Welschinger, F.; Hornberger, K. & Böhlke, T. On mean field homogenization schemes for short fiber reinforced composites: Unified formulation, application and benchmark International Journal of Solids and Structures, Elsevier BV, 230-231, 111141, 2021

[3] Q.-S. Zheng and D.-X. Du. An explicit and universally applicable estimate for the effective properties of multiphase composites which accounts for inclusion distribution. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 49(11) :2765–2788, 2001

[4] P. Ponte Castañeda and J. R. Willis. The effect of spatial distribution on the effective behavior of composite materials and cracked media. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 43(12) :1919–1951, 1995