Abstract
A finite element model that incorporates a 3D progressive fatigue damage model (3D PFDM) is developed to simulate the fatigue behavior of Flax-epoxy (FE) composites. Input parameters of the model are determined from testing the material properties in all directions. A double-notched shear test is used to characterize the out-of-plane shear properties of the laminate under both static and fatigue loading conditions. The 3D PFDM, which employs a stochastic distribution of the material properties, is implemented thorough a user-defined subroutine in ABAQUS finite element software. Results of the finite element analysis of voids-containing laminates are in good agreement with experimental results. The predicted fatigue life of all layups is more influenced by voids at higher loading levels compared to laminates without voids. A further verification of the 3D PFDM model was performed using the cross ply and quasi-isotropic configurations and comparing the predicted free-edge delamination at the interface of the 90° ply and adjacent layers to the SEM micrographs of free edges of specimens. From a practical perspective, the proposed 3D PFDM could be applied to a wide range of composite materials to predict edge delamination in laminates with different fiber orientations.
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