Application of the Cosserat continua to numerical studies on the properties of the materials

ABSTRACT

The finite element models of Cosserat continuum in two- and three-dimensions are presented. The size effects of a cantilever beam and a micro-rod, the well-posedness, the mesh-independent solutions of the boundary value problems with non-associated elastoplastic and strain softening constitutive behavior, and the progressive failure of the two- and three-dimensional vertical excavations are studied. Numerical results illustrate that the proposed Cosserat continuum models are capable of reflecting the size effects of micro-structures, preserving the well-posedness of the boundary value problem characterized by the strain localization, ensuring mesh-independent solutions, and simulating the entire progressive failure process occurring in engineering structures.

KEYWORDS:

• Cosserat continua
• size effect
• mesh-independent
• strain softening
• non-associated plasticity
• progressive failure

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this work by the National Natural Science Foundation of China through contract/grant numbers 50808033, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT16ZD211).