Multiscale design of three-dimensional nonlinear composites using an interface-enriched generalized finite element method

A computational framework is developed to model and optimize the nonlinear multiscale response of three-dimensional particulate composites using an interface-enriched generalized finite element method. The material nonlinearities are associated with interfacial debonding of inclusions from a surrounding matrix which is modeled using C⁻¹ continuous enrichment functions and a cohesive failure model. Analytic material and shape sensitivities of the homogenized constitutive response are derived and used to drive a nonlinear inverse homogenization problem using gradient-based optimization methods. Spherical and ellipsoidal particulate microstructures are designed to match a component of the homogenized stress-strain response to a desired constructed macroscopic stress-strain behavior.