Towards brittle materials with tailored fracture properties: the decisive influence of the material disorder and its microstructure

Considering a semi-infinite crack propagating within plane where the local fracture energy fluctuates due to presence of microstructural heterogeneities, we emphasize decisive influence material disorder on effective composite at macroscopic scale. Through use large-scale numerical simulations interacting with tough inclusions varying shape, show how intensity and inclusion geometry modify both quantitatively qualitatively toughening behavior respect periodic case, are arranged in an ordered manner. This disorder-induced is then rationalized using theoretical homogenization framework borrowed from statistical physics. It ultimately allows propose strategies for design disordered composites improved growth resistance tailored asymmetric properties.