Abstract

A computationally efficient method for generating virtual periodic representative volume element (RVE), capable of handling arbitrary inclusion shapes, is developed. A universal collision/overlap detection and repair method is proposed, where each inclusion shape is represented as a union of n-Spheres (UnS). A constrained optimization problem is formulated and solved to remove inclusion overlaps; a closed-form solution is derived for calculating the degree of inclusions overlap and its gradient vector with respect to inclusion position. RVE generation is illustrated with circular, spherical, four non-circular and four non-spherical inclusion shapes. Computational efficiency is demonstrated using an elaborate RVE generation time study. The generated RVEs are evaluated using various statistical metrics; results confirm the random distribution of inclusions. Effective properties of RVEs, representing unidirectional composites, are determined using homogenization with various fibre cross-section shapes; obtained mechanical properties have shown transverse isotropy.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Publisher Keywords:	Fibre composites, Particulate composites, Microstructure, Micromechanics, Collision detection
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery T Technology > TL Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics
Departments:	School of Science & Technology > Engineering

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