Prediction of Delamination Crack Growth in Carbon/Fiber Epoxy Composite Laminates Using a Non-Local Cohesive Zone Modeling

Abstract:

The global behavior of composite materials is strongly influenced by the quality of adhesion between different components. A component can be single phase, like fibers or particles used as reinforcement in a homogenous matrix, or a multiphase material like a layer in long-fiber laminate. In the latter case the degradation of adhesion implies the separation of the layers, known as delamination. Among all different failure mechanisms, Delamination is considered to be the most prominent mode of failure in fiber-reinforced laminates as a result of their relatively weak inter-laminar strength. When laminated structures are subjected to static, dynamic or cyclic loadings, the inter-laminar adhesion strength between individual plies tends to deteriorate significantly and act as the origin of the final failure. Therefore, an efficient and reliable design tool capable of predicting delamination could improve the durability for composite laminates. There exist damage mechanics based formulations capable of simulating the delamination crack growth in carbon/glass fiber epoxy based composite laminates. The present study is focused on taking a step forward in this respect. At first, already existed local interface models effectiveness is tested and results are successfully compared with available experimental data for UD IMS/924 Carbon/fiber epoxy composite laminate. Next, a non-local integral-type regularization scheme is introduced to overcome the spurious localization problem associated to the existing local model. Basic concepts and mathematical modeling of Non-Local damage evolution law are comprehensively studied and presented in this study. Finite Element simulation results based on proposed model are discussed in detail and are compared with experimental results.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 570)
• Pages: 25-36
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.570.25
• Online since: September 2012
• Authors: Hassan Ijaz, L. Gornet, M.A. Khan, W. Saleem, K. Nisar, S.R. Chaudry
• Keywords: Damage Mechanics, Delamination, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Laminates, Non-Local Modeling

References

[1] K. KAW Autar, Mechanics of Composite Materials, 2nd Edition. Taylor & Francis, (2006).

[2] O. Allix, P. Ladevèze, Interlaminar interface modeling for the prediction of delamination. Composite Structures, 22 (1992) 235-242.

DOI: 10.1016/0263-8223(92)90060-p

[3] O. Allix, P. Ladevèze, L. Gornet, D. Lévêque, L. Perret, A Computational Damage Mechanics Approach for Laminates: Identification and Comparison with Experimental Result. Damage Mechanics in Engineering Materials, Studies in Applied Mechanics, 46 (1998).

DOI: 10.1016/s0922-5382(98)80059-7

[4] H. Ijaz, L. Gornet, A high-cyclic elastic fatigue damage model for carbon fibre epoxy matrix laminates with different mode mixtures. Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 42 (2011) 1173-1180.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.03.004

[5] H. Ijaz, M. A. Khan, W. Saleem and S. R. Chaudry, Numerical modeling and simulation of delamination crack growth in CF/Epoxy composite laminates under cyclic loading using cohesive zone model. Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 326 (2011) 37.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.326.37

[6] B. Fiedler, C. de Jong, T. Hobbiebrunken, M. Hojo, K. Schulte, Micro/Macro-mechanical approach of first ply failure in CFRP. J. Mater Sci, Vol. 41 (2006) 6760-6767.

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-006-0215-4

[7] G. Alfano, M.A. Crisfield, Finite element interface models for the delamination analysis of laminated composites: mechanical and computational issues. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. Vol. 50 (2001) 1701-1736.

DOI: 10.1002/nme.93

[8] O. Allix, P. Ladevèze, A. Corigliano, Damage analysis of interlaminar fracture specimens. Computer Structures, Vol. 31 (1995) 61-74.

DOI: 10.1016/0263-8223(95)00002-x

[9] Z.P. Bazant, G. Pijaudier-Cabot, Nonlocal continuum damage, localization instability and convergence. Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 55 (1988) 287-293.

DOI: 10.1115/1.3173674

[10] R.H.J. Peerlings, M.G.D. Geers, R. De Borst, W.A.M. Breckelmans, A critical comparison of nonlocal and gradient enhanced softening continua. International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 38 (2001) 7723-7746.

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7683(01)00087-7

[11] R.H.J. Peerlings, M.G.D. Geers, R. De Borst R., W.A.M. Breckelmans, Localization issues in local and nonlocal continuum approaches to fracture. European Journal of Mechanics A/Solids, Vol. 21 (2001) 175-189.

DOI: 10.1016/s0997-7538(02)01211-1

[12] G. Borino, B. Failla, F. Parrinello, Nonlocal elastic damage interface mechanical model. International Journal for Multiscale Engineering, Vol. 5 (2007) 153-165.

DOI: 10.1615/intjmultcompeng.v5.i2.80

[13] M. Jirasek, Nonlocal models for damage and fracture: comparison of approaches. International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 35 (1998) 4133-4145.

DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7683(97)00306-5

[14] A. Laksimi, M.L. Benzeggagh, J. Jing, J.M. Roelandt, Mode I interlaminar fracture of symmetrical cross-ply composites. Composite Science and Technology, Vol. 41 (1991) 147-164.

DOI: 10.1016/0266-3538(91)90025-k

[15] O. Allix, P. Ladevèze, A. Corigliano, A damage analysis of interlaminar fracture specimens. Composite Structures. Vol. 31 (1995) 61-74.

DOI: 10.1016/0263-8223(95)00002-x

[16] A. Corigliano, O. Allix, Some aspects of interlaminar degradation in composites. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol. 185 (2000) 203-224.

DOI: 10.1016/s0045-7825(99)00260-1

[17] G. Beer, An isoperimetric joint/interface element for finite element analysis. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. Vol. 21 (1985) 585-600.

DOI: 10.1002/nme.1620210402

[18] P. Verpeaux, T. Charras, A. Millard, Castem 2000 : Une approche moderne du calcul des structures. J.M. Fouet, P. Ladevèze, R. Ohayon (ed. ), (1988) 227–261. http: /wwwcast3m. cea. fr.

[19] D.D.R. Cartié, Effect of Z-fibres on the delamination behaviour of carbon fibre/ epoxy laminates. PhD thesis, Cranfield University UK (2000).