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. 2017 Dec:103:252-262.
doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2017.10.006. Epub 2017 Oct 14.

Interaction of delaminations and matrix cracks in a CFRP plate, Part II: Simulation using an enriched shell finite element model

Mark W McElroy  1 , Renaud Gutkin  2 , Mark Pankow  3
Affiliations

Interaction of delaminations and matrix cracks in a CFRP plate, Part II: Simulation using an enriched shell finite element model

Mark W McElroy et al. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Numerical simulations are presented of a recently developed test which creates multiple delaminations in a CFRP laminate specimen that grow and interact via transverse matrix cracks [1]. A novel shell element enriched with the Floating Node Method, and a damage algorithm based on the Virtual Crack Closure Technique, were used to successfully simulate the tests. Additionally, a 3D high mesh fidelity model based on cohesive zones and continuum damage mechanics was used to simulate the tests and act as a representative of other similar state-of-the-art high mesh fidelity modeling techniques to compare to the enriched shell element. The enriched shell and high mesh fidelity models had similar levels of accuracy and generally matched the experimental data. With runtimes of 36 minutes for the shell model and 55 hours for the high mesh fidelity model, the shell model is 92 times faster than the high-fidelity simulation.

Keywords: A. Laminates; B. Delamination; B. Fracture; C. Finite element analysis (FEA).

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Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Floating Node Method [32].
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Delamination-migration representation in enriched shell model.
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Illustration of microcrack orientation as a result of shear sign.
Figure 4:
Figure 4:
Steps to determine energy release rate associated with transverse crack growth, Gmig.
Figure 5:
Figure 5:
Definition of relative angle, α, between the shear force vector at a delamination front location and the bounding fibers.
Figure 6:
Figure 6:
Test overview and specimen description.
Figure 7:
Figure 7:
Overview of the AFS model.
Figure 8:
Figure 8:
Force-displacement correlation between tests and the AFS model (Layup 1).
Figure 9:
Figure 9:
Qualitative correlation of delamination size and damage pattern (Layup 1).
Figure 10:
Figure 10:
Quantitative correlation of delamination size (Layup 1).
Figure 11:
Figure 11:
Force-displacement correlation between tests and the AFS model (Layup 2).
Figure 12:
Figure 12:
Qualitative correlation of delamination size and damage pattern (Layup 2).
Figure 13:
Figure 13:
Overview of the HF model.
Figure 14:
Figure 14:
Material regions in the HF model.
Figure 15:
Figure 15:
Force-displacement data from the HF model, the AFS model, and the experiments.
Figure 16:
Figure 16:
HF model delaminations and matrix crack predictions.
Figure 17:
Figure 17:
Delamination area versus indentation from the HF model, the AFS model, and the experiments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. McElroy M, Gutkin R, Pankow M, Interaction of delaminations and matrix cracks in a CFRP plate, Part I: A test method for model validation (submitted), Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. - PMC - PubMed
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