Three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element modeling of rigid-rigid polymer toughening processes

Three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element modelling is developed to simulate toughening processes in rigid-rigid polymer blends. The face-centred cuboidal cell model is provided to account for full inter-particle interactions. The effective constitutive relation is obtained by the method of homogenisation. Local stress concentrations responsible for cavitation, crazing and shear yielding are calculated at different stress triaxiality. The anelasticity and plasticity of second-phase particles have led to enhancement in stress concentrations and reduction in effective yield stress. Cavitation of second-phase particles is shown to play an important role in the rigid-rigid polymer toughening processes especially at high stress triaxiality.