Computationally Efficient Concurrent Multiscale Framework for the Linear Analysis of Composite Structures

This paper presents a novel multiscale framework based on higher-order one-dimensional finite element models. The refined finite element models (FE) originate from the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF), a novel and efficient methodology to develop higher-order structural theories hierarchically via a variable kinematic approach. The concurrent multiscale framework consists of a macroscale model to describe the structural level components interfaced with efficient CUF micromechanical models. Such micromechanical models can take into account the detailed architecture of the microstructure with high fidelity. The framework derives its efficiency from the capability of CUF models to detect accurate 3D-like stress fields at reduced computational costs. This paper also shows the ability of the framework to interface with different classes of representative volume elements (RVE) and the benefits of parallel implementations. The numerical cases focus on composite and sandwich structures and demonstrate the high-fidelity and feasibility of the proposed framework. The efficiency of the framework stems from comparisons with the analysis time and memory requirement against traditional multiscale implementations. The present paper is a companion of a linked work dealing with nonlinear material implementations.