Multi-Scale Nonlinear Progressive Damage and Failure Analysis for Open-Hole Composite Laminates

In order to study the nonlinear behaviors and interactions among the constituents for the composite material structure under the tensile load, multiscale damage model using generalized method of cells (GMC) and a lamina-level progressive damage model were established, respectively, for fiber reinforced composite laminates with a central hole, which were based on the thermodynamic Schapery Theory (ST) at either the micro-level or the lamina level. Once the nonlinear progressive degradation of the matrix material reached the lower limit value for the ST method, matrix failures naturally occurred, the failure of the fiber was determined by the maximum stress failure criterion. For the multiscale progressive damage model, the GMC model consisting of a fiber subcell and three matrix subcells was imposed at each integral point of FEM elements, and the three matrix subcells undergo independent damage evolution. The load versus displacement curves and failure modes of the open-hole laminates were predicted by using the two progressive failure models, and the results were compared with that obtained by the Hashin-Rotem progressive failure model and the experimental results. The results show that the ST based method can obtain the nonlinear progressive damage evolution states and failure states of the composite at both the lamina level and the multiscale level. Finally, the damage contours and failure paths obtained are also presented.