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Controlling microstructural heterogeneity is a promising strategy for tailoring the mechanical properties of multi-constituent materials. In particular, constituent connectivity, including the continuity of stiff or high-strength constituents, has attracted considerable interest in computational micromechanics. Although recent advances have enabled detailed analyses of complex microstructures, the micromechanical mechanisms governing their nonlinear deformation and fracture behavior remain insufficiently understood. In this study, three-dimensional numerical material testing, combining finite element analysis with a plasticity-induced damage model, is employed to investigate the relationship between constituent morphology and ductile fracture in duplex periodic microstructures. The analyzed microstructures contain continuous or discrete high-strength constituents over a wide range of volume fractions. The results show that both constituent volume fraction and connectivity affect macroscopic yielding, whereas fracture behavior exhibits a particularly strong sensitivity to connectivity. Specifically, the continuity of the low-strength matrix substantially affects damage localization, tensile strength, and elongation. When the low-strength constituent forms a continuous matrix, plastic deformation and damage preferentially localize within that matrix. Consequently, macroscopic fracture can occur before the strengthening effect of a large volume fraction of the discrete high-strength constituent is fully realized. These results demonstrate that constituent volume fraction alone is insufficient to characterize the ductile fracture behaviorof the periodic microstructures investigated in this study. The findings provide micromechanical insight into the distinct roles of constituent volume fraction, morphology, and connectivity and may contribute to the morphology-based design of heterogeneous materials with improved mechanical performance.

Rights:

• Creative Commons BY-NC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
  

Keyword: Ductile fracture, Constituent connectivity, Computational micromechanics, Duplex microstructures, Plasticity-induced damage, Finite element analysis

Date published: 2026-08-28

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Journal:

• Materials Today Communications (ISSN: 23524928) vol. 56 116014

Funding:

• The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan
• Japan Science and Technology Agency Strategic Basic Research Programs CREST JPMJCR1995

Manuscript type: Publisher's version (Version of record)

MDR DOI:

First published URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2026.116014

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Updated at: 2026-09-02 11:31:53 +0900

Published on MDR: 2026-09-02 14:28:28 +0900