Computational Modeling of Damage Development in Composite Laminates Subjected to Transverse Dynamic Loading

Abstract

This paper presents a robust computational model for the response of composite laminates to high intensity transverse dynamic loading emanating from local impact by a projectile and distributed pressure pulse due to a blast. Delaminations are modeled using a cohesive type tie-break interface introduced between sublaminates while intralaminar damage mechanisms within the sublaminates are captured in a smeared manner using a strain-softening plastic-damage model. In the latter case, a nonlocal regularization scheme is used to address the spurious mesh dependency and mesh-orientation problems that occur with all local strain-softening type constitutive models. The results for the predicted damage patterns using the nonlocal approach are encouraging and qualitatively agree with the experimental observations. The predictive performance of the proposed numerical model is assessed through comparisons with available instrumented impact test results on a class of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates. Force-time histories and other derived cross-plots such as the force versus projectile displacement and progression of projectile energy loss as a function of time are compared with available experimental results to demonstrate the efficacy of the model in capturing the details of the dynamic response. Another case study involving the blast loading of CFRP composite laminates is used to further highlight the capability of the proposed model in simulating the global structural response of composite laminates subjected to distributed pressure pulses.

Failure mechanisms in composite panels subjected to underwater impulsive loads

“…Concerning the prediction of structural behavior and failure of monolithic and sandwich hulls subjected to impulsive loadings, limited work was reported in the literature (Deshpande and Fleck, 2005;Hoo Fatt and Palla, 2009;Tilbrook et al, 2009;Forghani and Vaziri, 2009). Although physically based, most models rely on homogeneous description of the composite material at the scale of the single ply or of the sub-laminate (Hashin, 1980;Hashin and Rotem, 1973;Puck and Schurmann, 1998).…”

Permanent indentation and damage creation of laminates with different composite systems: An experimental investigation

“…Permanent indentation is mainly caused by low‐velocity impact or static indentation process. During the past few years, research on the composite laminates subjected to low‐velocity impact or static indentation mainly focus on multiple damage modes inside the laminates with their interactions and evolution processes . Many researchers were also concerned with the mechanical responses and contact behaviors of the laminates .…”

Cohesive zone models and impact damage predictions for composite structures

“…In some studies a different cohesive law is used [229,230]. Some simulations use the tie-break interface in LS-DYNA which also provides for a bilinear traction-separation law [231]. Airoldi [228] showed examples of multiple delaminations that propagate unstably and lead to immediate loss of load-carrying capability and also of slowly-propagating interlaminar damage that does not affect the overall response.…”

“…Usually, l cz;z ( l cz;zx and it is recommended to have at least two or three elements in the cohesive zone defined by l cz;z in order to capture the stress distribution in that zone. Linear exponential [153,199,233,234] Others: [229][230][231] High velocity impacts Bilinear: [272,273] Other: [274] Sandwich structures Bilinear: [282-285, 288, 295, 296] Others: [278,283,284,286,287,297,299] Crash absorbers for automotive applications…”