*CONSTITUENT

Define a constituent in the multiscale material.

This option is used to define the properties of a constituent in the multiscale material. It must be used in conjunction with the MEAN FIELD HOMOGENIZATION option.

This page discusses:

Required parameters

TYPE

Set TYPE=INCLUSION to define inclusion properties.

Set TYPE=MATRIX to define matrix properties. There can only be one matrix-typed constituent in the aggregate.

Set TYPE=VOID to define void inclusion properties. Void inclusions are supported only in Abaqus/Standard.

Optional parameters

DIRECTION

This parameter is not relevant for spherical inclusion.

Set DIRECTION=FIXED to define a fixed inclusion direction.

Set DIRECTION=ORIENTATION TENSOR to define the orientation distribution using a second-order orientation tensor.

Set DIRECTION=RANDOM3D to define a random orientation distribution in 3D.

If this parameter is omitted, the inclusions are assumed to be aligned. The direction vector is (1, 0, 0) in the local coordinate system.

ISOTROPIZATION COEFFICIENT

This parameter is meaningful only when the constituent is modeled with an elastic-plastic material and the plasticity is defined with isotropic hardening.

Set this parameter equal to the factor used for scaling the plastic strain of the constituent when calculating the isotropic part of the tangent. The value must be greater than or equal to one. If this parameter is omitted, the general method is used for the isotropization.

MATERIAL

Set this parameter equal to the name of the material to be used with this constituent.

This parameter is not relevant if the constituent is void (TYPE=VOID).

NAME

Set this parameter equal to the name of the constituent.

The constituent name must be unique. This parameter is not relevant if the constituent is void (TYPE=VOID).

RESPONSE

This parameter applies only to constituents with TYPE=INCLUSION and DIRECTION=ORIENTATION TENSOR or RANDOM3D.

Set RESPONSE=GRANULAR (default) to compute the response of the inclusion in each subdomain ("grain") individually. See Specifying a Second-Order Orientation Tensor in Abaqus/Standard for details.

Set RESPONSE=AVERAGE to compute the response of the inclusion using the averaged strain/temperature gradient over all subdomains. This value can be used only if UNIFORM MATRIX STRAIN=YES on the MEAN FIELD HOMOGENIZATION option.

In Abaqus/Explicit only the RESPONSE=AVERAGE setting is supported.

SHAPE

This parameter is not relevant for the matrix constituent (TYPE=MATRIX) or when the concentration tensor is defined directly.

Set SHAPE=CYLINDER to define cylinder-shaped inclusions with a circular cross-section. The aspect ratio is infinite.

Set SHAPE=ELLIPTIC CYLINDER to define cylinder-shaped inclusions with an elliptical cross-section. The aspect ratio is a 2 / a 3 . See Specifying the Shape, Volume Fraction, and Aspect Ratio for more details.

Set SHAPE=OBLATE to define oblate-shaped inclusions. The aspect ratio must be less than one.

Set SHAPE=PROLATE to define prolate-shaped inclusions. The aspect ratio must be greater than one.

Set SHAPE=PENNY to define penny-shaped inclusions. The aspect ratio must be less than one.

Set SHAPE=SPHERE to define spherical inclusions. The aspect ratio is one.

Data line to define constituent properties with aligned directions (DIRECTION=FIXED)

First (and only) line
  1. A positive scalar value defining the volume fraction of the constituent. In Abaqus/Standard the value can also be the name of a distribution (Distribution Definition) that defines a spatially varying volume fraction.
  2. A positive scalar value defining the aspect ratio of the constituent. Leave blank if SHAPE=CYLINDER, SHAPE=SPHERE, or if the concentration tensor is defined directly. In Abaqus/Standard the value can also be the name of a distribution (Distribution Definition) that defines a spatially varying aspect ratio.
  3. Components of the direction vector defined in the local coordinate system. In Abaqus/Explicit the direction vector must be aligned with the 1-direction of the local coordinate system.

Data line to define constituent properties with specified second-order orientation tensor (DIRECTION=ORIENTATION TENSOR)

First (and only) line
  1. A positive scalar value defining the volume fraction of the constituent. In Abaqus/Standard the value can also be the name of a distribution (Distribution Definition) that defines a spatially varying volume fraction.
  2. A positive scalar value defining the aspect ratio of the constituent. Leave blank if SHAPE=CYLINDER, SHAPE=SPHERE, or if the concentration tensor is defined directly. In Abaqus/Standard the value can also be the name of a distribution (Distribution Definition) that defines a spatially varying aspect ratio.
  3. Components of the second-order orientation tensor in the local coordinate system. In Abaqus/Standard the value can also be the name of a distribution (Distribution Definition) that defines a spatially varying orientation tensor. In Abaqus/Explicit a spatially varying orientation tensor is specified in the orientation definition of the section.

Data line to define constituent properties with random orientation (DIRECTION=RANDOM3D)

First (and only) line
  1. Volume fraction.
  2. Aspect ratio. Leave blank if SHAPE=CYLINDER, SHAPE=SPHERE, or if the concentration tensor is defined directly.

 

See Also
*MEAN FIELD HOMOGENIZATION
*CONCENTRATION TENSOR
Mean-Field Homogenization