Modeling the mechanics of amorphous solids at different length and time scales

TL;DR

This paper reviews multiscale simulation approaches for understanding the structure and deformation of amorphous glasses, from atomistic to macroscopic models, highlighting recent advances and ongoing challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of simulation techniques across different length and time scales for amorphous solids, emphasizing multiscale modeling opportunities.

Findings

Atomistic simulations highlight the role of potential energy landscapes.

Mesoscopic models connect shear banding with disorder and correlations.

Constitutive laws are reviewed for finite element simulations.

Abstract

We review the recent literature on the simulation of the structure and deformation of amorphous glasses, including oxide and metallic glasses. We consider simulations at different length and time scales. At the nanometer scale, we review studies based on atomistic simulations, with a particular emphasis on the role of the potential energy landscape and of the temperature. At the micrometer scale, we present the different mesoscopic models of amorphous plasticity and show the relation between shear banding and the type of disorder and correlations (e.g. elastic) included in the models. At the macroscopic range, we review the different constitutive laws used in finite element simulations. We end the review by a critical discussion on the opportunities and challenges offered by multiscale modeling and transfer of information between scales to study amorphous plasticity.