Numerical simulation of chaotic and self-organizing damage in brittle disordered materials Original Research Article

The results of a numerical investigation on the fracture properties of heterogeneous materials are presented. Numerical simulations of tensile, compressive and splitting tests have been performed by means of the Delft lattice model, and fractal dimensions have been measured on the lattice damage patterns. The ability of the model to reproduce statistical interactions and self-organization in the propagation of the cracks is discussed. In particular, the global fractal dimension of the microcracks network increases with a progressively decreasing rate during damage propagation in the lattice. Useful indications are provided by the discrete model that can be inserted in a continuum formulation. An optimal choice of the percentages of weak and strong microstructural elements, together with their particle distribution, may lead to improved mechanical performances.