Basic aspects of damage mesomodelling
Résumé
The basic aspects of a general damage computational approach which enable to simulate the complete fracture phenomenon are presented. It is a semi-discrete modelling where the material, especially the damage mechanisms, are described on an intermediate and preferential scale named meso-scale. Damage generally refers to the more or less gradual development of microdefects. For composite materials this phenomenon is of a highly complex nature due to anisotropy unilateral properties and because of the different scales which are involved in the damage process. Therefore, the classical isotropic damage theory is, in general, insufficient for properly describing the behavior of such materials. The purpose of this study is to present the basic tools and the main features of a damage mesomodelling approach. All these different aspects will be illustrated by studies of several materials and situations composite laminates, 3D composites, Sic-Sic composites. Damage mesomodelling, when used in structural analysis codes, enables simulating the damage state of a structure up to its failure. Such codes are currently under development especially for French Aerospace industries.}