Discrete element simulations of punch tests for the mechanical characterization of cortical meshes

In this work, a plain steel wire double-twisted hexagonal mesh is modeled with the discrete element method for the evaluation of its mechanical behavior. In the current model, the wires are replaced with long-range interaction forces between nodes of the mesh. The implemented force-displacement curves for the basic elements, i.e. single and double-twisted wires, are derived from laboratory tensile tests. The mechanical behavior of the considered mesh is investigated in standard laboratory punch test conditions. The results of these numerical tests permitted to highlight two subsequent phases linked to the geometric distortion of hexagons and to the tensile properties of the materials respectively. An anisotropic stress-strain distribution was also observed, which reveals a preferential direction of tensile forces in the mesh panel