Multiscale fatigue life prediction model for CFRP laminates considering the mechanical degradation of its constituents and the local stress concentration of the matrix

Abstract

In the present research, a novel approach for predicting the fatigue life of composites is proposed using a multiscale fatigue model. This model considers two critical physical phenomena that occur in CFRP laminates under tension-tension cyclic loading – the degradation of the physical properties of CFRP constituents and the localized stress concentrations within the matrix. To achieve this, Mori-Tanaka’s mean field theory, a well-known micromechanics model, is employed to consider the deterioration of material properties in various phases, which is dependent on the applied stress level. Localized stress concentration phenomena within the matrix of a composite material are common when CFRP laminate is subjected to cyclic loading. The localized stress concentration on a matrix with different numbers of fibers and orientations using representative volume elements (RVE) is investigated. Two other scales of failure criteria are defined to evaluate its constituent at the material level and ply level at the macroscale. A comparison with fatigue experiment data of AS4/3501-6 composite shows good reliability of the proposed multiscale fatigue model.