A Global/Local Finite Element Approach for Predicting Interlaminar and Intralaminar Damage Evolution in Composite Stiffened Panels Under Compressive Load

Abstract

This paper addresses the prediction of intralaminar and interlaminar damage onset and evolution in composite structures through the use of a finite element based procedure. This procedure joins methodologies whose credibility has been already assessed in literature such as the Virtual Crack Closure Technique (for delamination) and the ply discount approach (for matrix/fiber failures). In order to establish the reliability of the procedure developed, comparisons with literature experimental results on a stiffened panel with an embedded delamination are illustrated. The methodology proposed, implemented in ANSYS © as post-processing routines, is combined with a finite element model of the panel, built by adopting both shell and solid elements within the frame of an embedded global/local approach to connect differently modelled substructures.

Fracture Mechanics Analyses for Interface Crack Problems - A Review

“…Equation (8) suggests that the individual strain energy release rates, G I and G II , depend on Δa and have no well defined limits, while the total energy release rate, G T , is independent of Δa and has a very well defined limit. For homogeneous, isotropic materials, however, the results for mode mixity based on equations (6) and (9) are identical.…”

“…In addition to increasing applications for the analysis composites [5][6][7], cracking has recently been investigated in conjunction with microelectronics [8][9][10][11], and piezoelectric bimaterials [12] as well as thin film interfaces [13]. Also, cracks that develop at the fiber-matrix interface in composites [14].…”

Finite Element Analysis of the Stability (Buckling and Post-Buckling) of Composite Laminated Structures: Well Established Procedures and Challenges

“…However, shell elements do not allow the through thickness shear distribution to be determined (for shell elements the transverse shear is assumed to be constant through the thickness). Therefore their use is not possible where interlaminar shear stress and strain distributions have to be determined for example near edges or to take into account delaminations [14,15] or skin-stringer debondings [16].…”

Formulation and assessment of an enhanced finite element procedure for the analysis of delamination growth phenomena in composite structures

“…It is worth noting that the finite element of the stiffened panel has been obtained by using the global/local technique [9], which allows the connection of differently modelled substructures by means of Multipoint constraints. Indeed, three different FE models have been considered, the one already used in Ref.…”

“…straight or circular/elliptical -2/35-when modelled by using orthogonal meshes with edges parallel or orthogonal to the delamination front). When the delamination growth is of concern, the VCCT can be used in conjunction with interface elements [5][6][7] or with a fail release approach [8][9][10] whose effect is that to simulate the growth process by releasing constraints between crack faces when the Strain Energy Release Rate level overcomes critical values (instantaneous propagation). However, during the propagation the delamination front may assume complex and non-smoothed shapes with corners.…”