Entropy-damage mechanics for the failure investigation of plain weave fabric composites

Abstract

Experimental investigation of recent research shows that the accumulated generated entropy during low-cycle fatigue due to irreversible thermodynamic processes could be a constant value as a material property in metals and composite laminates. The present study aims to evaluate the constancy of accumulated generated entropy in static loading in plain weave fabric composites. A unit-cell-based model, considering different defects, is assembled with continuum damage mechanics (CDM) at the tows level. Equivalent elastic properties of a layer, the initiation, and evolution of damage, as well as irreversible deformation in uniaxial tension and in-plane shear, are simulated in a meaningful physical scale up to the final failure. The obtained results will confirm that Accumulated Entropy Generation (AEG) can be an intrinsic material property in static loading and a measure of the final failure, which can be used in mixed loading conditions.