From nature geometry to material design: advanced fractal nature analysis for predicting experimental elastic properties

In this work, combined experimental and fractal nature analysis procedures are proposed in order to both model and design mechanical properties of porous ceramics. Several porous ceramics samples have been considered both from an in-situ experimental campaign and from the literature. Microstructural information concerning pore size distribution has been approximated by the Intermingled Fractal units (IFU) approach and effective mechanical properties are derived by a simple discrete model. The capability of the proposed methodology to reproduce high-scattered mechanical properties is fully shown and a comparison with classical bounds and estimates is also reported. Finally, the combined experimental, fractal nature analysis and homogenisation scheme is implemented as a design procedure for the technological production of advanced porous ceramics.