Cohesive zone models and impact damage predictions for composite structures

Abstract

This article surveys existing cohesive zone models (CZM) and their use in numerical simulations for analysis impacts on composite structures and predicting the damage induced. These models are used for matrix cracks and delamination. The first part of article gives the required background on failure criteria for predicting the onset of delaminations, on fracture mechanics and the various types of CZM. The second part discusses applications of CZM to several types of impact problems with composite structures. Applications for these models to other problems are briefly mentioned at the end. CZM are now part of state of the art numerical simulations with progressive damage analysis.

Effective Modeling of Interlaminar Damage in Multilayered Composite Structures Using Zigzag Kinematic Approximations

“…In the cohesive crack model the crack tip stress field is finite (nonsingular) and the evolution of the crack is directly controlled by the cohesive tractions. This is straightforward in the presence of pure mode loading, while for mixed-mode loading different strategies are used to account for the coupling of the cohesive responses and define mixed-mode criteria for initiation and propagation (see (Abrate et al 2015) for a recent review).…”

Simulation on Low Velocity Impacted Damage of Sandwich Composite with Finite Element Analysis

“…Different cohesive zone models were reviewed by S. Abrate [4], and presented results shown an acceptable accuracy could be obtained. However, stability of solution process is difficult to guarantee without refined mesh.…”

“…In particular, stiffness degradation schemes developed in the framework of continuum damage mechanics (CDMs). Cohesive zone models (CZM) used to predict the growth of various types of cracks are reviewed in this article with a special focus on impact problems [4]. The crushing behaviors of composites laminates tubes had been numerically simulated using finite elements, by cohesive elements to allow for delaminating, by Palanivelu et al [10].…”

Experimental and numerical study of the damage mechanisms in hybrid unidirectional/woven composites under impact loading

“…Delamination is usually made 2 using interface elements [23,24]. Wisnom [25] and Abrate [26] have provided detailed reviews on the use of cohesive zone interface elements to model matrix failures in polymer composites. Another modelling strategy is the Semi-Continuous approach [27,28,29,30,31,32].…”