Micromechanics-based prediction of the failure locus of angle-ply laminates subjected to biaxial loading

Abstract

A mesoscale finite element model is presented for calculating the deformation and initial strength of angle-ply laminates subjected to biaxial tension and biaxial tension–compression. Using the concept that the whole laminate structure can be represented by a rhombohedral unit cell, predictions of the mechanical behavior for various biaxial loading ratios are made. Damage by microcracking at the fiber–matrix interface and shear band formation in the matrix are incorporated into the numerical simulations. The failure locus calculated from the mesoscale model is found to agree with experimental data available in the literature better than do theoretical predictions. Results of this study indicate that computational micromechanics can be used for detecting leakage failure in filament wound tubes.