Numerical Modelling of Fibre Metal Laminates Subjected to Blast Loading

Abstract

In this paper, finite element models were developed to simulate fibre metal laminates subjected to various blast loadings with typical pressure‐time patterns. The aluminium (alloy grade 2024‐0) layer was modelled as an isotropic elasto‐plastic material up to the on‐set of post failure stage, followed by shear failure and tensile failure to simulate its failure mechanism. The glass fibre laminate (woven glass‐fibre/polypropylene matrix composite) layer was modelled as an orthotropic material up to its on‐set of damage, followed by damage initiation and evolution using the Hashin criterion. The damage initiation was controlled by failure tensile and compressive stresses within the lamina plane which were primarily determined by tests. The damage evolution was controlled by tensile/compressive fracture energies combined both fibre and matrix. Discussions were given to cover difficulties faced during development of the modelling. The FE models developed for 2/1 and 3/2 fibre metal laminates with different GFPP layer thicknesses were validated against the corresponding experimental results. Good correlation was obtained in terms of failure modes and permanent displacements. Using validated models, parametric studies may be further carried out to cover FMLs made with various stack sequences and layer thicknesses.