Finite Element Method Simulations of the Delamination in Laminated Composite Structures

Abstract

Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations of the delamination in fabric laminates with complex topology require considerable computational power, in particular when material and interface nonlinearities are taken into account. A multi-scale embedding approach is presented which is capable to capture the nonlinear mechanisms inside textile plies while the computational effort is kept relative low. The approach is used to simulate the response of Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests and three point End Notch Flexure (ENF) tests. Delamination is evaluated in terms of nonlinear load displacement curves, critical energy release rates and dissipated energy. Besides the global response, local effects are investigated and the localized patterns of the various non- linear mechanisms are predicted. This way, detailed insight to the global delamination behaviour as well as the locally involved mechanics is obtained quantitatively.