Local Field Assessment inside Multiscale Composite Architectures

We introduce asymptotic expansions for recovering the local field behavior inside multiscale composite architectures in the presence of residual stress. The theory applies to zones containing abrupt changes in the composite microgeometry. This includes the interfaces between plies inside fiber reinforced laminates. The asymptotic expansions are used to develop a fast numerical algorithm to extract local field information inside a prescribed subdomain without having to resort to a full numerical simulation. For regions of homogeneous microstructure, the analysis delivers bounds on the magnitude of the local stress and strain fields inside the composite. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the utility of the asymptotic theory for quickly assessing the location and magnitude of local field concentrations inside complex composite architectures.