Computational homogenization of nano-materials accounting for size effects via surface elasticity

Javili, A., Chatzigeorgiou, G., McBride, A. , Steinmann, P. and Linder, C. (2015) Computational homogenization of nano-materials accounting for size effects via surface elasticity. GAMM-Mitteilungen, 38(2), pp. 285-312. (doi: 10.1002/gamm.201510016)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

The objective of this contribution is to establish a first-order computational homogenization framework for micro-to-macro transitions of porous media that accounts for the size effects through the consideration of surface elasticity at the microscale. Although the classical (first-order) homogenization schemes are well established, they are not capable of capturing the well-known size effects in nano-porous materials. In this contribution we introduce surface elasticity as a remedy to account for size effects within a first-order homogenization scheme. This proposition is based on the fact that surfaces are no longer negligible at small scales. Following a standard first-order homogenization ansatz on the microscopic motion in terms of the macroscopic motion, a Hill-type averaging condition is used to link the two scales. The averaging theorems are revisited and generalized to account for surfaces. In the absence of surface energy this generalized framework reduces to classical homogenization. The influence of the length scale is elucidated via a series of numerical examples performed using the finite element method. The numerical results are compared against the analytical ones at small strains for tetragonal and hexagonal microstructures. Furthermore, numerical results at small strains are compared with those at finite strains for both microstructures. Finally, it is shown that there exists an upper bound for the material response of nano-porous media. This finding surprisingly restricts the notion of “smaller is stronger”.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The support of this work by the ERC Advanced Grant MOCOPOLY is gratefully acknowledged. AM thanks the support provided by the National Research Foundation of South Africa through the South African Research Chair in Computational Mechanics. CL also, acknowledges the support of Samsung Electronics.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McBride, Professor Andrew
Authors: Javili, A., Chatzigeorgiou, G., McBride, A., Steinmann, P., and Linder, C.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
Journal Name:GAMM-Mitteilungen
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0936-7195
ISSN (Online):1522-2608

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record