Multiscale material modeling in Abaqus/Explicit

Multiscale material modeling is now available in Abaqus/Explicit.

This functionality is first available in the Abaqus 2022 FD01 (FP.2205) release.

Products Abaqus/Explicit

You can now use mean-field homogenization to model composite materials in Abaqus/Explicit. Previously, this material model was available only in Abaqus/Standard. The mean-field homogenization approach is used for multiscale material modeling. This approach can calculate composite responses using properties of the constituents; it can also decompose the composite strain into constituent strains and compute the constituent-level responses. The mean-field homogenization approach can be useful to predict behaviors of fiber-reinforced composite assembly parts manufactured through the injection molding process; it can also be useful to model progressive failure of fiber-reinforced composites by modeling failure at the constituent level.

In the example below, the fiber orientation is predicted by an injection molding simulation, as shown in Figure 1. The model is then reduced to a simple cylinder, and a rigid rod is added to the model to simulate a service load, as shown in Figure 2. The fiber orientation tensor field is mapped from the injection molded part to the reduced model, as shown in Figure 2.

There is a "weld line" in the cylinder caused by the gate location in the injection molding process; the weld line is the line where the flow fronts meet during the molding process and can result in weakness of the structure. The structural analysis is carried out with Abaqus/Explicit, and a multiscale material is used to model the plastic part. Plasticity with ductile damage is specified in the matrix material, and damage evolution is also specified. Figure 3 shows the deformed shape of the cylinder. As expected, the failure location agrees very well with the location of the weld line.

Figure 1. Fiber orientation of an injection molded part.

Figure 2. Fiber orientation mapped to a reduced structure model of the injection molded part.

Figure 3. Damage of the reduced structure model under pressure load from the rod.

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