A multiscale quasicontinuum method for dissipative lattice models and discrete networks
L. A. A. Beex, R. H. J. Peerlings and M. G. D. Geers
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 64, 154–169 (2014).

ABSTRACT

Lattice models and discrete networks naturally describe mechanical phenomena at the mesoscale of fibrous materials. A disadvantage of lattice models is their computational cost. The quasicontinuum (QC) method is a suitable multiscale approach that reduces the computational cost of lattice models and allows the incorporation of local lattice defects in large-scale problems. So far, all QC methods are formulated for conservative (mostly atomistic) lattice models. Lattice models of fibrous materials however, often require non-conservative interactions. In this paper, a QC formulation is derived based on the virtual-power of a non-conservative lattice model. By using the virtual-power statement instead of force-equilibrium, errors in the governing equations of the force-based QC formulations are avoided. Nevertheless, the non-conservative interaction forces can still be directly inserted in the virtual-power QC framework. The summation rules for energy-based QC methods can still be used in the proposed framework as shown by two multiscale examples.