Development of Progressive Failure Analysis Method for Composite Laminates based on Puck's Failure Criterion-Damage Mechanics Coupling Theories

Abstract

This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.In the present study, an evaluation method for progressive failure of composite laminates has been proposed based on Puck's failure criterion and damage mechanics. The initial failure (or initiation of crack/delamination) has been assessed using Puck's failure criterion, and the progressive failure (or growth of crack/delamination) has been evaluated using fiber-and matrix-dependent damage variables.Based on Puck's failure criterion-damage mechanics coupling theories, the ABAQUS user-defined subroutine UMAT has been developed in order to analyze the progressive failure of glass/carbon fiber-reinforced composite laminates efficiently. In addition, the developed subroutine has been applied to progressive failure problem of industrial composite laminates, and the analysis results has been compared to experimental results which have been already reported in publications. It was confirmed that the simulation results were coincided well with the reported composite failure results.