Fracture properties prediction of clay/epoxy nanocomposites with interphase zones using a phase field model

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 188; pp. 287 - 299
• Main Authors: Msekh, Mohammed A., Cuong, N.H., Zi, G., Areias, P., Zhuang, X., Rabczuk, Timon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Brittle fracture; Brittleness; Clay; Dissipation; Epoxy coatings; Finite element method; Fracture mechanics; Fracture toughness; Interphase zone; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Nanocomposites; Phase field model; Platelets (materials); Polymer layered silicate; Polymer matrix composites; Polymer nanocomposite; Strain energy release rate; Tensile strength; Finite element method; Phase field model; Interphase zone; Polymer layered silicate; Polymer nanocomposite; Brittle fracture
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2017.08.002

•A phase field model for fracture in heterogeneous structure.•A hybrid hierarchical/concurrent multiscale method for fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•A phase field model for matrix and interphase fracture in polymer-matrix composites.•Extraction of fracture related material properties for various input parameters, particularly for the interphase zone. We predict the macroscopic tensile strength and fracture toughness of fully exfoliated nano silicate clay epoxy composites accounting for the interphase behavior between the polymeric matrix and clay reinforcement. A phase field approach is employed to model fracture in the matrix and the interphase zone of the polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) while the stiff clay platelets are considered as linear elastic material. The effect of the interphase zones, e.g. thickness and mechanical properties (Young’s modulus and strain energy release rate) on the tensile strength, and fracture parameters of the composite is studied in detail. The dissipation energy due to fracture in the PNCs is extracted for different thicknesses and properties of the interphase zones. We show through numerical experiments that the interphase thickness has the most influence on the tensile strength while the critical strain energy release rate of the interphase zones affects the dissipation energy depending on the interphase zone thickness.