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A Numerical Method for Simulating the Microscopic Damage Evolution in Composites Under Uniaxial Transverse Tension

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Abstract

In this paper, a new numerical method that combines a surface-based cohesive model and extended finite element method (XFEM) without predefining the crack paths is presented to simulate the microscopic damage evolution in composites under uniaxial transverse tension. The proposed method is verified to accurately capture the crack kinking into the matrix after fiber/matrix debonding. A statistical representative volume element (SRVE) under periodic boundary conditions is used to approximate the microstructure of the composites. The interface parameters of the cohesive models are investigated, in which the initial interface stiffness has a great effect on the predictions of the fiber/matrix debonding. The detailed debonding states of SRVE with strong and weak interfaces are compared based on the surface-based and element-based cohesive models. The mechanism of damage in composites under transverse tension is described as the appearance of the interface cracks and their induced matrix micro-cracking, both of which coalesce into transversal macro-cracks. Good agreement is found between the predictions of the model and the in situ experimental observations, demonstrating the efficiency of the presented model for simulating the microscopic damage evolution in composites.

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Acknowledgments

The research work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (11372020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, People’s Republic of China

    Jie Zhi & Libin Zhao

  2. Large Aircraft Advanced Training Center, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, People’s Republic of China

    Jie Zhi

  3. College of Aerospace Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, People’s Republic of China

    Jianyu Zhang

  4. Applied Mechanics Laboratory, School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 10084, People’s Republic of China

    Zhanli Liu

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  1. Jie Zhi
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  4. Zhanli Liu
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Correspondence to Libin Zhao.

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Zhi, J., Zhao, L., Zhang, J. et al. A Numerical Method for Simulating the Microscopic Damage Evolution in Composites Under Uniaxial Transverse Tension. Appl Compos Mater 23, 255–269 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-015-9459-y

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