Modelling of Progressive Damage in a Notched Carbon/Epoxy Composite Laminate Subjected to Tensile Loading Using Different Assessment Methods Coupled with FEM

Modelling of progressive damage in a notched carbon/epoxy composite laminate subjected to tensile loading using different assessment methods coupled with FEM. In this study, various evaluation methods for the initial and progressive failure of composite laminated have been proposed and assessed based on several failure criteria (Puck and Hashin) and coupled with damage mechanics (gradual degradation methods and continuum damage mechanic), respectively. This work aims to model the behaviour and the damage phenomenon in T300/1034C carbon/epoxy composite laminates under tensile loading while considering the effect of different stacking sequences and stress concentration. Hence, a user-defined subroutine Material (UMAT) has been successfully implemented, using finite element software Abaqus, through coupling Puck's failure criteria and gradual degradation methods (Constant stress exposure and Element weakening method) to enable accessible use of failure analysis. However, the analysis results comprise the prediction of the failure load, failure modes and load vs displacement curves which were compared to the experimental/numerical findings already provided in the literature as well as the study of the mesh dependency for the applied methods. This comparative study confirmed that the PUCK+CSE model has the potential not only to give a thorough understanding of progressive failure mechanisms in fibre-reinforced composites, but can also be used to design composite laminates involving holes and notches, where the simulation results are within the confidence interval.

Automated summary

This study models the progressive damage in a notched carbon/epoxy composite laminate subjected to tensile loading using different assessment methods combined with finite element analysis. The evaluation methods proposed and assessed in this study are based on failure criteria and damage mechanics. The research aims to understand the behavior and damage phenomenon in carbon/epoxy composite laminates, considering different stacking sequences and stress concentrations. The results of the analysis are compared to experimental and numerical findings to validate the accuracy of the proposed methods.