TY  - JOUR
VL  - 95
PB  - Elsevier
EP  -  638
A1  - Paggi, Marco
A1  - Corrado, Mauro
A1  - Rodriguez, Maria Alejandra
SP  - 630 
TI  - A multi-physics and multi-scale numerical approach to microcracking and power-loss in photovoltaic modules
ID  - eprints2041
AV  - public
KW  - Photovoltaic module; Fracture mechanics; Computational methods; Multi-physics; Multi-scale
IS  - 0
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263822312003807
SN  - 0263-8223
Y1  - 2013///
N2  - A multi-physics and multi-scale computational approach is proposed in the present work to study the evolution of microcracking in polycrystalline Silicon (Si) solar cells composing photovoltaic (PV) modules. Coupling between the elastic and the electric fields is provided according to an equivalent circuit model for the PV module where the electrically inactive area is determined from the analysis of the microcrack pattern. The structural scale of the {PV} laminate (the macro-model) is coupled to the scale of the polycrystals (the micro-model) using a multiscale nonlinear finite element approach where the macro-scale displacements of the Si cell borders are used as boundary conditions for the micro-model. Intergranular cracking in the Si cell is simulated using a nonlinear fracture mechanics cohesive zone model (CZM). A case-study shows the potentiality of the method, in particular as regards the analysis of the microcrack orientation and distribution, as well as of the effect of cracking on the electric characteristics of the PV module.
JF  - Composite Structures
ER  -