Application of fracture mechanics in a blended numerical framework for progressive damage analysis of CFRPs in FEM
A.P. van Oostrum (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Dimitrios Zarouchas – Mentor
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Abstract
Composite structures are increasingly applied for their unique set of properties. However, their behavior is not yet fully understood, amongst others, due to complex interactions of failure modes. This research implemented a blended stress-strain and fracture mechanics based progressive damage analysis model, based on a Continuum Damage Model (CDM) for fibre failure, cohesive zones for delaminations and XFEM with cohesive zones for matrix cracks. The model was verified on a set of sub-laminate scaled open hole tensile specimens from literature and validated in an additional in-house experimental campaign. Failure loads are within the experimental scatter and failure patterns are in line with experimental X-ray CT scans, but underestimate matrix failure. The model is able to capture the interactions better than full CDM implementations, specifically those between matrix cracks and delaminations. However, work remains as the framework in Abaqus is unstable and cannot provide the full failure patterns for matrix cracks.