Continuum Damage-healing Mechanics with Application to Self-healing Composites

The general behavior of self-healing materials is modeled including both irreversible and healing processes. A constitutive model, based on a continuum thermodynamic framework, is proposed to predict the general response of self-healing materials. The self-healing materials’ response produces a reduction in size of microcracks and voids, opposite to damage. The constitutive model, developed in the mesoscale, is based on the proposed Continuum Damage-Healing Mechanics (CDHM) cast in a consistent thermodynamic framework that automatically satisfies the thermodynamic restrictions. The degradation and healing evolution variables are obtained introducing proper dissipation potentials, which are motivated by physically based assumptions. An efficient three-step operator slip algorithm, including healing variables, is discussed in order to accurately integrate the coupled elastoplastic-damage-healing constitutive equations. Material parameters are identified by means of simple and effective analytical procedures. Results are shown in order to demonstrate the numerical modeling of healing behavior for damaged polymer-matrix composites. Healed and not healed cases are discussed in order to show the model capability and to describe the main governing characteristics concerning the evolution of healed systems.