A finite element based approach for nonlocal stress analysis for multi-phase materials and composites

Abstract This study proposes a numerical method for calculating the stress fields in nano-scale multi-phase/composite materials, where the classical continuum theory is inadequate due to the small-scale effects, including intermolecular spaces. The method focuses on weakly nonlocal and inhomogeneous materials and involves post-processing the local stresses obtained using a conventional finite element approach, applying the classical continuum theory to calculate the nonlocal stresses. The capabilities of this method are demonstrated through some numerical examples, namely, a two-dimensional case with a circular inclusion and some commonly used scenarios to model nanocomposites. Representative volume elements of various nanocomposites, including epoxy-based materials reinforced with fumed silica, silica (Nanopox F700), and rubber (Albipox 1000) are subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation combined with periodic boundary conditions. The local and nonlocal stress fields are computed through numerical simulations and after post-processing are compared with each other. The results acquired through the nonlocal theory exhibit a softening effect, resulting in reduced stress concentration and less of a discontinuous behaviour. This research contributes to the literature by proposing an efficient and standardised numerical method for analysing the small-scale stress distribution in small-scale multi-phase materials, providing a method for more accurate design in the nano-scale regime. This proposed method is also easy to implement in standard finite element software that employs classical continuum theory.