Simulation of damage phenomena in metamaterials

Metamaterials are generated from an interrelated set of cells and can present a macroscopic behaviour that differs from the one that characterizes its basic constituents. Modelling the influence that the damage and fracture of the elemental constituents have in the macroscopic properties of the metamaterial is relevant for its mechanical analysis. Altering the resistant behaviour of the elements (changing their longitudinal elastic modulus), it is possible to approximate the effect of the damage in the complete structure. It is considered as valid the substitution of the damage and plastic deformation phenomena by intermediate states contained in the linear elastic deformation regime. Each state is characterized by the elastic module of the element, whose geometry remains unmodified. In an iterative process, when the induced stress in the elements is greater than the one stablished as the limit, they progress through the different states, diminishing their elastic modulus until they are considered as fractured and are eliminated from the structure. Mass effects are ignored, and a stress-free structure is implemented to calculate each iteration. A simple algorithm is presented to simulate the effect of damage in metamaterial structures, applicable to any finite element software.