Elastic property prediction by finite element analysis with random distribution of materials for tungsten/silver composite

In the present numerical study, we introduce a finite element analysis for heterogeneous materials via a random distribution of materials to predict effective elastic properties. With this random distributing strategy, a large scale parametric analysis via finite element becomes feasible for the multi-phase heterogeneous solids. Taking a well-documented tungsten–silver bi-continuous material as an example, the numerical prediction provided here for the effective properties is checked by experimental testing data available in open publication. Discussions on the present finite element prediction and other approaches are also made by comparing with Hashin and Shtrikman (J Mech Phys Solids 11:127–140, 1963) bounds in the composite mechanics.