BEAM LATTICE MODELING FOR THE FRACTURE OF PARTICLE COMPOSITES

The beam lattice fracture model for particle composites is improved by adopting a three-fragment element. The element stiffness matrix is derived based on equilibrium conditions at joints between fragments. A comparison with the existing model shows that the improved model can simulate the interface zone between aggregate and matrix more realistically, and can include aggregates smaller than the lattice’s discretization size. Numerical results show that the improved model can simulate force-displacement relations and crack patterns.