Quantitative characterization and modeling of composite microstructures by Voronoi cells

In this paper, Voronoi cells resulting from Dirichiel tessellation of a planar heterogeneous microstructure are introduced as a unified tool in characterization and response modeling of multiphase materials. Microstructures with different volume fractions, inclusion concentrations and patterns are computer simulated, and tessellated to yield a mesh of Voronoi cells. Various characterization functions generated. The Voronoi cell finite element method of Voronoi cell based geometric parameters are, (VCFEM) is executed for plane strain analysis of the microstructures. These results are used for comparing measures of geometric and mechanical anisotropy, and for evaluating statistical functions of stresses. (C) 1997 Acta Metallurgica Inc.