Micromechanics-based elastic-damage analysis of laminated composite structures

Abstract

Based on the micromechanics-based constitutive model, derived in our preceding work [Lee, H.K., Pyo, S.H.. 2009. A 3D-damage model for fiber-reinforced brittle composites with microcracks and imperfect interfaces. journal of Engineering Mechanics-ASCE, in press, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943.7889.0000039.], incorporating a multi-level damage model and a continuum damage model, the overall elastic behavior and damage evolution of laminated composite structures are studied in detail. The constitutive model is implemented into the finite element program ABAQUS using a user-subroutine UMAT to solve boundary value problems of the composite structures. The validity of the implemented constitutive model is assured by comparing the predicted stress-strain curves with experimental data available in literature under uniaxial tension with various fiber orientations. The results show that the proposed micromechanics-based constitutive model accurately predict the overall elastic-damage behavior of laminated composite structures having different material compositions, thicknesses and boundary conditions.