A novel mode-dependent and probabilistic semi-discrete damage model for progressive failure analysis of composite laminates - Part II: Applications to unnotched and open-hole tensile specimens

Abstract

A new method is introduced in part I of this two-part paper [1] to model the progressive failure of composite laminates. In this second part, the method is applied to unnotched (UNT) and open hole tensile (OHT) specimens. With semi-discrete meshing features and a randomized material distribution, the proposed model is capable of capturing both ultimate failure and damage progression. The increase of crack density and splitting as well as fiber failure localization are demonstrated on the basis of the cross-ply tensile specimen. Similar mechanisms, including free edge cracking, are predicted in the more complex (50/40/10) layup. With a simple technique, the meshes are efficiently generated for unnotched and notched specimens using Abaqus CAE/ Python scripting. As a result, the model is able to capture the discrete cracking near the hole as well as stress concentrations using a locally refined mesh region. By unifying features of both smeared and discrete methods, the presented semi-discrete damage model (SD2M) is seen to provide a pathway to model a variety of failure mechanisms and their interactions fairly accurately and efficiently, leading to very good predictions of ultimate strengths.