Stochastic Finite Element Analysis Framework for Modelling Mechanical Properties of Particulate Modified Polymer Composites

Abstract

Polymers have become indispensable in many engineering applications because of their attractive properties, including low volumetric mass density and excellent resistance to corrosion. However, polymers typically lack in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties that may be required for certain engineering applications. Therefore, researchers have been seeking to improve properties by modifying polymers with particulate fillers. In the research presented herein, a numerical modeling framework was employed that is capable of predicting the properties of binary or higher order composites with randomly distributed fillers in a polymer matrix. Specifically, mechanical properties, i.e., elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and thermal expansion coefficient, were herein explored for the case of size-distributed spherical filler particles. The modeling framework, employing stochastic finite element analysis, reduces efforts for assessing material properties compared to experimental work, while increasing the level of accuracy compared to other available approaches, such as analytical methods. Results from the modeling framework are presented and contrasted with findings from experimental works available in the technical literature. Numerical predictions agree well with the non-linear trends observed in the experiments, i.e., elastic modulus predictions are within the experimental data scatter, while numerical data deviate from experimental Poisson’s ratio data for filler volume fractions greater than 0.15. The latter may be the result of morphology changes in specimens at higher filler volume fractions that do not comply with modelling assumptions.

Multiscale analysis and experimental validation of the effective elastic modulus of epoxy-dioctahedral phyllosilicate clay composite

“…In continuum mechanics, for statistically homogeneous materials, an RVE is regarded as a picture of the material to be utilized to predict the resultant actual properties of a homogenized macroscopic model with a volume which is minute when likened to the macroscopic body and sufficiently enormous when likened to the microstructural size. RVE models play important part in the mechanism and dynamics of haphazard dissimilar materials, when forecasting their actual elastic properties [14,22,23,24].…”

“…As a result of this, adoption of cost-effective, fast and dependable numerical frameworks for virtual characterization of new materials began to gain significant attention. Examples of these numerical approaches include Finite Element Analysis (FEA) [14], molecular dynamics simulation [15], quantum chemical/mechanical calculations [16] and statistical modeling [17].…”

“…Although, most of the reported findings have proven to be worthwhile, it was found out that most of the authors developed their RVE models via traditional approaches such as Voronoi Tessellation [23], Random Sequential Adsorption (RSA) algorithm [24] and Monte Carlo simulation [14]. Some of these approaches are sometimes cumbersome, intricate and time-consuming (might require learning of new programing language(s) with steep learning curve(s)).…”

Surrogate modeling of the effective elastic properties of spherical particle-reinforced composite materials

“…In this case, different simplifying assumptions can be also adopted, including RVEs allowing particles to intersect with the RVE boundaries (see e.g. [23]), and the more general case of intersecting particles [24]. In this work, we implement a general cubic 3D model with allows particle intersection with the cell boundaries.…”

Computational design and development of high-performance polymer-composites as new encapsulant material for concentrated PV modules

“…Molecular dynamics simulations and continuum mechanics-based models are used for the cases where properties are controlled at atomic/molecular levels 7,16 . Whereas, finite element models [17][18][19][20] and homogenization schemes 17,[21][22][23] are used to predict the properties which are controlled at the microstructural level. The purpose of the current work is to present an approach for the design and development of composite materials for the backside encapsulant of CPV systems.…”