Modelling of mixed mode fatigue-induced delamination in composites: A comparative study

Abstract

© 31st Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, ICAS 2018. All rights reserved.Three numerical models for the prediction of high-cycle fatigue-driven delamination in carbon/epoxy composite laminates are compered through finite element analysis of a mixed-mode bending specimen. These models allows delamination modelling without knowing, a priori, the modes ratios. The models are implemented into ABAQUS/Explicit FE code within solid elements. The local part (at element level) of the algorithms are implemented in a user-defined material subroutine (VUMAT) and the non-local part (at structure level), in a VEXTERNALDB subroutine. The study found that the use of strain energy release rate based on Paris' law variation combined with cohesive zone model is a robust approach. The use of strength-based damage parameter to account for the fatigue damage reduces the numerical integration error associated with the cycle jump and the non-local crack tip tracking algorithm improves the accuracy.

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