General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Abstract A computational constitutive model is presented to predict matrix cracking evolution in laminates under in-plane loading. Transverse cracks are treated as separate discontinuities in the micro model which provides damage parameters for the macro model. Both micro and macro models are implemented using Finite Element Analysis (FEA); specifically ANSYS, avoiding limitation of analytical micro modeling. The computational cost of the micro model is limited to constructing a database (DB) of micro-model predictions a priori. The macromodel is simply a FEA discretization of the structure using plane stress or shell elements in ANSYS. The macro model queries the DB, which effectively becomes a constitutive model. The damage surfaces in the DB are obtained from the results of large number of finite element micro-scale (unit-cell) analyses. The proposed procedure is implemented in ANSYS as a usermaterial subroutine for transverse crack initiation and propagation in symmetric cross-ply and [0r/(s/0n]s laminates under in-plane loads. This method is also examined to study matrix crack evolution in tensile specimen with open hole and the results found to be in good agreement with available experimental data.

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