Assessment of failure criteria and damage evolution methods for composite laminates under low-velocity impact

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the applicability of failure criteria and damage evolution methods in the finite element analysis of composite laminates under lowvelocity impact. Implemented by the user-defined VUMAT subroutine in ABAQUS, various progressive damage models are used to predict damage initiation and accumulation in a T700GC/M21 composite laminate. Cohesive elements are inserted between adjacent plies to capture interface delamination. The applicability of damage models is investigated by comparing the global mechanical response and distribution of various damage modes. A new variable, equivalent damage volume, is introduced to quantitatively describe the predicted damage when using different models. The numerical results establish that Hashin and Puck failure criteria generate matrix compression damage in more layers of the composite. Maximum stress and Tsai-Wu criteria are not preferred due to their improper predictions in terms of damage area and permanent deformation of the laminate. As for damage evolution laws, the equivalent strain method provides faster stiffness degradation of the laminate and a smaller area 2 of matrix damage compared with the predictions of the equivalent displacement method.

Finite element analysis of a modified progressive damage model for composite laminates under low-velocity impact

“…In addition, the delamination that occurs in the interface 7 is basically completely ineffective, with few partial failures. For the last four interfaces, the damage propagation direction is parallel to the fiber orientations of the lamina below the corresponding interface, which is consistent with the conclusions given by Liu [10] and Li [37]. Nevertheless, the distribution of delamination damage in the top three interfaces does not match the aforementioned regulations.…”

Low velocity impact behavior of interlayer hybrid composite laminates with carbon/glass/basalt fibres

“…In those following researches, various approaches were proposed to capture matrix cracking and delamination as cohesive elements [20] and spring elements [8]. The forms of these damage models were extended to 3-D structure aiming to consider through thickness stresses by [25,26]. Constitutive laws for plain wove composites can be used to characterise the general form of damage models from unidirectional composites [16,[26][27][28].…”

Optimal orientation of fibre composites for strength based on Hashin’s criteria optimality conditions

“…Each criterion governs a distinct failure mode: matrix tensile, matrix compressive, fibre tensile and fibre compressive. They interact in terms of stresses and strength properties, and are well established in measuring fibre composite first ply failure and/or damage onset (Zhu et al 2017;Koh and Madsen 2018;de Miguel et al 2018;Li et al 2019;Kim and Kim 2019;Joosten 2019).…”