Two-dimensional analysis of size effects in strain-gradient granular solids with damage-induced anisotropy evolution

We analyze in two dimensions the mechanical behavior of materials with granular microstructures modeled by means of a variationally formulated strain-gradient continuum approach based on micromechanics and show that it can capture microstructural-size-dependent effects. Tension-compression asymmetry of grain-assembly interactions, as well as microscale damage, is taken into account and the continuum scale is linked to the grain-scale mechanisms. Numerical results are provided for finite deformations and substantiate previous research. As expected, results show interesting size-dependent effects that are typical of strain-gradient modeling.