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Finite Element Analysis of Single-Leg Bending Delamination of Composite Laminates Using a Nonlinear Cohesive Model

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Abstract

Delamination is a dominating failure mechanism in composites. Deep insight into mixed-mode delamination failure mechanism requires advanced numerical methods. Currently, the cohesive zone model (CZM) by combining with the finite element analysis has become a powerful tool for modeling the delamination initiation and growth of composites. Based on the middle-plane interpolation technique, this paper first develops a 3D finite element technique for implementing exponential CZM using ABAQUS-UEL (User element subroutine). Then, the effects of the cohesive strength, mesh size and initial delamination crack length on the delamination behavior and load response for two single-leg bending composite specimens with mixed-mode I/II delamination modes are studied by comparison with the experimental results. In addition, the viscous effect on the load–displacement curves for two specimens is also studied.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Pengfei Liu would sincerely like to thank the support of the National Natural Science Funding of China (No. 51375435), the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Project of China (No. 2015CB057603), the Natural Science Funding of Zhejiang Province of China (No. LY13E050002) and Aerospace Science and Technology Innovation Funding.

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  1. Institute of Chemical Machinery and Process Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    P. F. Liu & Z. P. Gu

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  1. P. F. Liu
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  2. Z. P. Gu
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Correspondence to P. F. Liu.

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Liu, P.F., Gu, Z.P. Finite Element Analysis of Single-Leg Bending Delamination of Composite Laminates Using a Nonlinear Cohesive Model. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 15, 846–852 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-0021-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-0021-x

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