Continuum damage mechanics modeling of composite laminates including transverse cracks

Abstract

In this study, the continuum damage mechanics model for predicting the stiffness reduction of composite laminates including transverse cracks is formulated as a function of crack density. To formulate the model, first the damage variable in the direction normal to the fiber of a ply including transverse cracks is derived. The damage variable is derived by the model assuming a plane strain field in the isotropic plane and using the Gudmundson–Zang model for comparison. The effective compliance based on the strain equivalent principle proposed by Murakami et al. and classical laminate theory are then used to formulate the elastic moduli of laminates of arbitrary lay-up configurations as a function of the damage variable. Finally, the results obtained from this model are compared to the finite-element analysis reported in previous studies. The model proposed in this paper can predict the stiffness of laminates containing damage due to transverse cracks (or surface crack) from just the mechanical properties of a ply and the lay-up configurations. Furthermore, this model can precisely predict the finite-element analysis results and experiment results for the elastic moduli of the laminate of arbitrary lay-up configuration, such as cross-ply, angle ply, and quasi-isotropic, including transverse cracks. This model only considers the damage of the transverse crack; it does not consider damage such as delamination. However, this model seems to be effective in the early stage of damage formation when transverse cracking mainly occurs. The model assuming plane strain field in the isotropic plane which is proposed in this paper can calculate the local stress distribution in a ply including transverse cracks as a function of crack density. The damage evolution of transverse cracks can thus be simulated by determining the fracture criterion.

A progressive damage model for 3D woven composites under compression

“…Dharan and Lin (2007) divided the matrix surrounding the fiber into a discrete interphase region adjacent to the fiber and matrix phase beyond the interphase based on an analytical model. Okabe et al (2018) formulated a continuum damage mechanics model for predicting the stiffness reduction of composite laminates including transverse cracks. Fang et al (2011) investigated the compression behavior of a three dimensional braided composite.…”

Progressive failure analysis of CFRP composite laminates under uniaxial tension using a discrete element method

“…It was found that the thickness of 908 plies and the modulus of adjacent plies have a significant influence on transverse cracking behavior. Okabe et al 7 formulated an analytical model as a function of crack density based on the continuum damage mechanics for predicting the stiffness reduction of composite laminates. It was proved that the model is capable of predicting the stiffness of laminates containing damage caused by transverse cracks (or surface crack) with only mechanical properties of lamina and the lay-up configuration, and calculating the local stress distribution within a ply including transverse cracks as a function of the crack density.…”

Damage evolution in fibrous composites caused by interfacial debonding

“…The damage evolution in fibrous composites mainly includes pull-out of fibers (Bechel and Sottos, 1998;Jiang et al, 2018;Lin et al, 2001;Park et al, 2017;Tsai and Kim, 1996), crack propagation in matrix and fracture of fibers (Brinson, 1999;Jin et al, 2017;Kumar and Talreja, 2003;Mihai et al, 2016;Okabe et al, 2017;Vorobiev et al, 2017;Voyiadjis and Deliktas, 2000;Wu and Ohno, 1999), and interfacial debonding (Caiazzo and Costanzo, 2000;Han et al, 2001;Harik and Cairncross, 2000;Heidarhaei et al, 2017;Li, 2018;Nedjar, 2014;Pupurs and Varna, 2015;Zhang et al, 2018).…”