Abstract

Deformation and failure onset of random elastic beam networks is investigated numerically. Different types of planar beam networks are generated from a random graph for which geometrical and topological characteristics can be defined easily. Sampling according to these characteristics is performed by means of the Ising-model. The networks are exposed to an overall strain and the deformation response is discussed in terms of the network’s strain energy density W. The results show, that W correlates well with the characteristics of the underlying graph. Intensity of failure onset, on the other hand, is examined using an energy based edge centrality measure. The results suggest, that randomness causes in most cases a decrease in stiffness, but it reduces as well severity of failure onset. In addition, the results show, that for the beam networks considered here, correlations can be discussed as well in terms of mean cell sidedness and mean product moment of cell area, i.e., measures which do not rely on the existence of a specific underlying graph.