An Extended Multiscale Finite Element Method (EMsFEM) Analysis of Periodic Truss Metamaterials (PTMM) Designed by Asymptotic Homogenization

Abstract

Asymptotic Homogenization (AH) and the Extended Multiscale Finite Element Method (EMsFEM) are both procedures that allow working on a structural macroscale that incorporates the effect of averaged microscopic heterogeneities, thus resulting in computationally efficient strategies. EMsFEM works directly on coupled finite micro and macroscales using numerically built discrete interpolation functions. Periodic Truss Metamaterials (PTMMs) are cellular materials formed by the periodic repetition of a truss-like unit cell and engineeringly tailored to show a given macroscopic response. In this work we analyze the numerical behavior of selected PTMMs that were designed for extreme Poisson ratios using AH theory. As a first issue, we study macroscopic structures made of finite unit cells and verify how close their average behavior coincides with the material properties predicted by AH. For comparison, we solve the macroscopic plane stress associate problems that employ the elastic constitutive tensor obtained by AH. The second issue is concerned with the ability of EMsFEM to reproduce the structural behavior of the full macro-micro model. We employ two versions of the EMsFEM, adopting linear (LBC) and periodic (PBC) boundary conditions to build the numerical interpolation functions. The third and most important aspect discussed in this research concerns evaluation of the EMsFEM downscaled displacement fields. We observe that according to the layout of the AH designed unit cell, to the use of LBC or PBC and, depending on the boundary conditions present in the macroscopic problem, spurious downscaled displacements might occur. Such spurious displacements are due to excessive compliance of the corresponding unit cell and can be detected when building the numerical interpolation functions. We conclude that the layout optimization of PTMM using AH must be carefully interpreted and that EMsFEM is a good tool to detect a macroscopic excessively compliant response at an early design stage.

Keywords:
Homogenization; Periodic Truss Materials; EMsFEM

Graphical Abstract