The criterion for determining the direction of crack propagation in a random pattern composites

Presented paper contains results of fracture analysis of brittle composite materials with a random distribution of grains. The composite structure has been modelled as an isotropic matrix that surrounds circular grains with random diameters and space position. Analyses were preformed for the rectangular “numerical sample” by finite element method. FE mesh for the examples were generated using the authors’ computer program RandomGrain. Fracture analyses were accomplished with the authors’ computer program CrackPath3 executing the “fine mesh window” technique. Calculations were preformed in 2D space assuming the plane stress state. Current efforts focus on brittle materials such as rocks or concrete.