A micro-mechanical model of reinforced polymer failure with length scale effects and predictive capabilities. Validation on carbon fiber reinforced high-crosslinked RTM6 epoxy resin

Abstract

We propose a micro-mechanical numerical model able to predict the nonlinear behavior and failure of unidirectional fiber reinforced high-crosslinked epoxy subjected to transverse loading conditions. Statistical microstructural volume elements (SMVE) of a realistic composite material are generated from the statistical characterization of the fibers distribution and fiber radius estimated from SEM images of a similar material system. The fibers are assumed to be transversely hyperelastic isotropic and the matrix obeys a hyperelastic viscoelastic–viscoplastic constitutive model enhanced by a multi-mechanism nonlocal damage model. This polymer model captures the pressure dependency and strain rate effects. Besides, it also accounts for size effects through its internal length scales, allowing capturing, with the same unique set of parameters, the behaviors of the epoxy as pure material as well as matrix phase in composites, which are experimentally observed to be different. Additionally, since fiber/matrix interfaces of the considered composite material are categorized as strong ones, the true underlying failure mechanism is located in the matrix close to the fibers, and the interface does not need to be explicitly introduced in the model. The model prediction is found to be in good agreement with experimental results in terms of the global nonlinear stress–strain curves over various strain rates and pressure conditions, on the one hand for pure matrix samples, and on the other hand for the composite coupons, making the proposed framework a predictive virtual testing facility for material design. Finally, using this model, we study the localization behavior in order to characterize the post-failure behavior of the composite material: the cohesive strength is given by the stress–strain curve peak stress while the critical energy release rate is estimated by evaluating the dissipated energy accumulated during the post-peak localization stage. Finally, different SMVE realizations are considered allowing assessing the discrepancy in the failure characteristics of composites.