Microstructure modeling of random composites with cylindrical inclusions having high volume fraction and broad aspect ratio distribution

Abstract

This paper presents a computational methodology for generating microstructure models of random composites with cylindrical or sphero-cylindrical inclusions having high volume fraction and broad aspect ratio distribution. The proposed methodology couples the random sequential adsorption (RSA) algorithm and dynamic finite element (FE) simulations. It uses RSA to generate sparse inclusion assemblies of low volume fraction and subsequently utilizes dynamic FE simulation for inclusion packing to achieve high volume fractions. The method can generate RVEs with volume fraction as high as 50% depending on the inclusion aspect ratio. Its capability is demonstrated by generating three distinct types of models with different inclusion characteristics which are further characterized in terms of homogeneity and isotropy. The results indicate that the proposed method is capable of generating models with low spatial variability of the filler orientation and volume fraction. The method can be used to generate input configurations for continuum and discrete representations of such random media.