Effect of a nonuniform distribution of voids on the plastic response of voided materials: a computational and statistical analysis (Q1777181)

The authors study the behaviour of random microstructures made of perfectly plastic porous materials containing various void distributions, using numerical simulations based on fast Fourier transform (FFT). Three types of microstructures are investigated: random structures with no void clustering, microstructures with a connected cluster of voids, and microstructures with disconnected void clusters. 2D and 3D FFT simulations are performed under different loading conditions in triaxial tests. The authors show a significant influence of the void distribution on overall yield properties and on local mechanical fields. The porosity distribution has an effect on the yield stress, the importance of which depends on the type of microstructure. So, the microstructures without clusters have the highest yield stress, the microstructures with connected clusters are the softest ones, while those with disconnected clusters show an intermediate response. Finally, the authors propose a statistical tool to detect the presence of clusters in a porous microstructure.