Modelling fracture and healing in particulate composite systems

Research in the field of self-healing materials gained significant attention in the last decade owing to its promise of enhanced durability of the material components in engineering applications. Though the research has led to several successful demonstrations, extensive experimental tests will be required for a successful demonstration. Further, for real-time engineering applications with self-healing materials, arriving at an optimal design of the self-healing system is crucial. In this context, modelling techniques in combination with a limited number of experimental tests are potentially more efficient than a design process based on extensive experimental campaigns. With this motivation, the present thesis aims to develop a modelling framework to analyse and understand the fracture mechanisms and the healing behaviour of self-healing material systems using finite element modelling approach. The overall objective is to provide certain guidelines and suggestions for material scientists in terms of selection and design of healing particles and a computational tool to understand and quantify the cracking and healing behaviour of self-healing material systems.