Dispersion of rigid line inclusions as stiffeners and shear band instability triggers

A dispersion of stiff and thin (‘rigid line’) inclusions (RLIs) in a matrix material may result beneficial for stiffening the elastic range, but might be detrimental to strength, as instabilities triggered by when is brought viscoplastic-damaging state. This dual role RLIs investigated means embedded reinforcement model. Validated against available analytical predictions, this numerical model employed assess roles RLIs’ orientation, interaction, volume fraction, distribution, considering up 1500 inclusions. When deforms inelastically, produce stress concentrations that promote nucleation shear bands. These are characterized at collapse many distributions RLIs, showing their effects range from almost negligible disrupting alteration dominant failure mechanism. In latter case, it shown bands can fragmented into mosaic tiny localization results offer new insights energy dissipation mechanisms reinforced materials, they promoted or inhibited interactions rigid line