A cohesive-zone crack healing model for self-healing materials

Journal article (2018)

Authors

Sathiskumar A. Ponnusami University of Oxford
J. Krishnasamy Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics - Aerospace Engineering
S.R. Turteltaub Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics - Aerospace Engineering
S. van der Zwaag Novel Aerospace Materials - Aerospace Engineering
Research Group
Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2018 Sathiskumar A. Ponnusami, J. Krishnasamy, S.R. Turteltaub, S. van der Zwaag
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2017.11.004
Fracture mechanics Self-healing material Cohesive-zone model Multiple crack healing
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Structures & Materials

Research Group

Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics

Abstract

A cohesive zone-based constitutive model, originally developed to model fracture, is extended to include a healing variable to simulate crack healing processes and thus recovery of mechanical properties. The proposed cohesive relation is a composite-type material model that accounts for the properties of both the original and the healing material, which are typically different. The constitutive model is designed to capture multiple healing events, which is relevant for self-healing materials that are capable of generating repeated healing. The model can be implemented in a finite element framework through the use of cohesive elements or the extended finite element method (XFEM). The resulting numerical framework is capable of modeling both extrinsic and intrinsic self-healing materials. Salient features of the model are demonstrated through various homogeneous deformations and healing processes followed by applications of the model to a self-healing material system based on embedded healing particles under non-homogeneous deformations. It is shown that the model is suitable for analyzing and optimizing existing self-healing materials or for designing new self-healing materials with improved lifetime characteristics based on multiple healing events.