Network approach for the analysis of the irreversible deformation of solids with soft heterogeneities

We introduce the concept of shear band network (SBN) in ductile solids containing soft particles to investigate their irreversible deformation. Drawing on network science tools, we show that the evolution of the SBN explains the material strength at the coarse scale. To gain physical understanding of the activation order of the SBN links during tensile loading, we develop an analytical model based on the continuum theory of irreversible deformation. The results are used to construct an efficient, parameter-free indicator of the material strength that is solely based on the particle size and spatial distribution, thus proving that network science can advance the understanding of strength mechanisms in ductile solids.