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. 2021 Jan 22;13(3):344.
doi: 10.3390/polym13030344.

Linear-Nonlinear Stiffness Responses of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials and Structures: A Numerical Study

S S R Koloor  1   2 , A Karimzadeh  2 , M R Abdullah  3 , M Petrů  2 , N Yidris  1 , S M Sapuan  4 , M N Tamin  3
Affiliations

Linear-Nonlinear Stiffness Responses of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials and Structures: A Numerical Study

S S R Koloor et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

The stiffness response or load-deformation/displacement behavior is the most important mechanical behavior that frequently being utilized for validation of the mathematical-physical models representing the mechanical behavior of solid objects in numerical method, compared to actual experimental data. This numerical study aims to investigate the linear-nonlinear stiffness behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites at material and structural levels, and its dependency to the sets of individual/group elastic and damage model parameters. In this regard, a validated constitutive damage model, elastic-damage properties as reference data, and simulation process, that account for elastic, yielding, and damage evolution, are considered in the finite element model development process. The linear-nonlinear stiffness responses of four cases are examined, including a unidirectional CFRP composite laminate (material level) under tensile load, and also three multidirectional composite structures under flexural loads. The result indicated a direct dependency of the stiffness response at the material level to the elastic properties. However, the stiffness behavior of the composite structures depends both on the structural configuration, geometry, lay-ups as well as the mechanical properties of the CFRP composite. The value of maximum reaction force and displacement of the composite structures, as well as the nonlinear response of the structures are highly dependent not only to the mechanical properties, but also to the geometry and the configuration of the structures.

Keywords: CFRP composites; damage mechanics; finite element method; material behavior; stiffness response; structural analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bilinear damage model of FRP composites (a) as described by the theory, and (b) the variation of this model based on different mechanical and damage properties reported in the previous studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bilinear damage model of FRP composites based on different (a) elastic, (b) strength, (c) fracture energy, and (d) strength and energy properties.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bilinear damage model of FRP composites based on different (a) elastic, (b) strength, (c) fracture energy, and (d) strength and energy properties.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Specimens configuration at different levels of material level (a), structural level (b), and super-structural level (c) as an example of hat-stiffened composite section in the Fuselage section of Boeing 787.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FE model of multi-layer construction of laminated composite.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mesh configuration of the 3D geometry and boundary condition of the sample.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Stiffness response of CFRP composites at (a) material, (b,c) structure, and (d) super-structure levels, to the variation of the elastic properties.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Stiffness response of CFRP composites beam (material level) under tensile load. The load–displacement response based on (a) strength, (b) energy, and (c) both strength and energy properties variations.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Stiffness response of CFRP composites beam (material level) under tensile load. The load–displacement response based on (a) strength, (b) energy, and (c) both strength and energy properties variations.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Stiffness response of thin CFRP composites plate (structural level) under three-point bending load. The load-displacement response based on (a) strength, (b) energy, and (c) both strength and energy properties variations.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Stiffness response of thick CFRP composites plate (structural level) under three-point bending load. The load-displacement response based on (a) strength, (b) energy, and (c) both strength and energy properties variations.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Stiffness response of hat-stiffened structure made of CFRP composites (super-structural level) under four-point bending load. The load-displacement response based on (a) strength, (b) energy, and (c) both strength and energy properties variations.
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References

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