We present theory and simulations of fracture of soft staggered composites [1] based on the generalization and finite element implementation of the material sink approach [2]. Results of the simulations are compared to experiments with 3D-printed soft composites [3,4]. In addition, the experiments allow an assessment of the stress-based versus energy-based failure criteria [5]. Results of the assessment are intriguing.

References

[1] Abu-Qbeitah S, Jabareen M, Volokh KY (2024) On strength and fracture toughness of soft composites. Mech. Mater. 191:104935

[2] Volokh KY (2017) Fracture as a material sink. Materials Theory 1:3

[3] Slesarenko V, Volokh KY, Aboudi J, Rudykh S (2017) Understanding the strength of bioinspired soft composites. Int. J. Mech. Sci. 131-132:171-178

[4] Abu-Qbeitah S, Petrenko O, Volokh KY, Rudykh S (2024) Experimental analysis of rate-dependent toughness behavior of 3D-printed soft interface composites, submitted

[5] Abu-Qbeitah S, Volokh KY, Rudykh S (2024) Energy-based versus stress-based material failure criteria: The experimental assessment, submitted