Progressive damage simulation of scaling effects on open-hole composite laminates under compression

Abstract

The progressive damage simulation and strength prediction of open-hole fibre-reinforced composite laminates subjected to compressive loading is quite difficult due to numerical stability issues. Here, we proposed a progressive damage model for open-hole fibre-reinforced composite laminates subjected to compressive loading based on open-hole fibre-reinforced composite laminates under a tensile load. The proposed model is divided into two parts: the in-plane damage and delamination are modelled by continuum shell elements and cohesive elements, respectively, and the damage mechanics of sublaminate-scaled laminates with ply sequence [45/0/–45/90]ns and ply-level scaled laminates with ply sequence [45m/0m/−45 m/90 m]s are investigated by our proposed model. The complete failure process and mode of notched composite laminate under compressive load are also modelled in our model. The numerical results show good agreement with the experimental results.