Matrix Crack and Delamination Analyses in Composite Laminates by FEM Based Micromechanical Approach

In this paper, a finite element based micromechanical approach are performed to study the effect of matrix cracking (also known as intralaminar cracking) on the behavior of cross-ply [0ºn/90ºm]s and angle-ply [θºn/90ºm]s laminates. The laminates material is carbon/epoxy and loaded statically in tension. The developed procedure is employed for different cross-ply and angle-ply symmetric laminates with various lay-up configurations. Prediction of mechanical properties degradation due to the damage formation are calculated using the developed micromechanical approach which is able to predict the stress transfer between the 90º plies in a [0ºn/90ºm]s cross-ply or an angle-ply [θºn/90ºm]s laminate containing parallel transverse cracks. In addition, reduction of axial stiffness versus crack density in off-axis plies will be presented for [45º/-45º]. It is shown that the predicted stiffness reductions and energy release rates are close to the available experimental measurements and theoretical results for carbon/epoxy laminates

کلیدواژه ها:

Micromechanics ، Composite ، Transverse crack ، Damage mechanics ، FEM