Matrix-embedded metamaterials: Applications for the architectural heritage

Abstract

A rather unexplored question and a very challenging problem consist in the synthesis and modeling of composite metamaterials consisting of at least two phases. The study of this problem may have a huge impact in the field of Civil Engineering, where such kind of composite materials found several applications, for instance, in application to architectural and civil engineering heritage. More precisely, the aim of this work is to study the mechanical properties of a fibrous metamaterial embedded in a softer matrix. Numerical simulations, obtained by means of a commercial Finite Element code, are carried out on a soft matrix reinforced by stiffer fibers arranged according to a geometry defined by the fiber directions and compared with results achieved using an effective model in which the micro-structure is homogenized. The role of the fibers and the matrix is reinterpreted with regard to these models. Finally, the employed models are calibrated to reproduce the mechanical behavior of a simple experiment.