Characterization of progressive damage behaviour and failure mechanisms of carbon fibre reinforced aluminium laminates under three-point bending

Abstract

In this study, the failure behaviour of a 3/2 carbon fibre reinforced aluminium laminates (CARALL) under three-point bending were investigated experimentally and numerically. Two different progressive failure models were compared for modelling the composite layers: the Abaqus in-built two-dimensional model and a combined three-dimensional Puck failure model with strain-based damage evolution laws implemented by explicit finite element subroutine Abaqus-VUMAT. Interfacial failure was simulated by the bilinear cohesive contact model and aluminium layers were described using Johnson-Cook model. Experiments including load-deflection curves and micro-observation using scanning electron microscope were performed to validate the numerical predictions. Results indicated that the VUMAT model is more accurate in predicting the flexural mechanical response and failure mechanisms than the in-built two-dimensional model during the whole loading stages. In addition, influences of stacking structures between aluminium and composite layers on the flexural behaviour were explored based on validated numerical methods.