Generalized grain cluster method for multiscale response of multiphase materials

Abstract

A multiscale approach termed the generalized grain cluster method (GGCM) is presented, which can be applied for the prediction of the macroscopic behavior of an aggregate of single crystal grains composing a multiphase material. The GGCM is based on the minimization of a functional that depends on the microscopic deformation gradients in the grains through the equilibrium requirements of the grains as well as kinematic compatibility between grains. By means of the specification of weighting factors it is possible to mimic responses falling between the Taylor and Sachs bounds. The numerical solution is computed with an incremental-iterative algorithm based on a constrained gradient descent method. For a multiscale analysis, the GCCM can be included at integration points of a standard finite element code to simulate macroscopic problems. A comparison with FEM direct numerical simulations illustrates that the computational time of the GGCM may be up to about an order of magnitude lower.