Multiscale modelling nano-platelet reinforced composites at large strain

We study the behaviour of an incompressible particle-reinforced neo-Hookean (IPRNC) material when subjected to large plain strain deformation. The peculiarity of the model consists in the rectangular shape of the particle which yields the macroscopic response of the composites non isotropic. This is indeed the case for many reinforcements currently used in composites at all length scales: short-fibres, clays, graphene. The consequence of the anisotropic reinforcement in this model at short strain is evident in the stiffness that is observed to depend strongly on the platelet orientation; a transverse stiffening effect when the platelet is oriented perpendicular to the loading direction proves to be almost as significant as the longitudinal stiffness contribution usually considered for anisotropic reinforcements. The large strain effects of orientation are also significant and an understanding of them is relevant to a number of applications that can take advantage of the large strain non-linear response.