Damage evolution in particulate composite materials

Damage evolution in heterogeneous solids is modeled using transformation field analysis and imperfect interface model. Stress changes caused by local debonding are simulated by residual stresses generated by equivalent transformation strains or eigenstrains. Decohesion and both overall and local stress and strain rates are derived from thermodynamics of irreversible processes, which provide an excellent framework for the development of constitutive equations. Both tangent and unloading secant stiffness tensors are found along any prescribed mechanical loading path. Numerical simulation of debonding evolution in glass/elastomer composites is compared with experimental data and provides good agreement between the model and experiments. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.