Towards the realization of composite metastructures: A failure analysis of connections

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2024.112873
• Publication Date: 2024-03-21T23:10:59Z
• Authors: Victor Gaultier; Georgios A. Pappas
• Keywords: Delamination

Metastructures hold significant potential for applications such as adaptive structures and soft robotics. Architectures of fiber-reinforced polymer metastructures may relate to modular arrangement straight curved laminates, with their connections resemble perfect cracks, thus susceptible delamination. This study investigated geometrical effects on the load-carrying capabilities these upon a global tensile deformation, well lean modeling tools facilitate development architected composite metastructures. Numerical fracture mechanics approach different connection geometries thicknesses showed that delamination is critical failure mode, but crack-driving-force has low dependence shape given ligament thickness (and stiffness). Adopted analytical models could capture either moment or force-driven failure, while intermediate regime necessitates numerical tools. First-ply precede depending stiffness. These trends were also verified an exemplary rotating chiral geometry. Furthermore, interface capability improvements studied via design considerations including filler material element variable thickness. Indicatively, latter 157 % increase in bending deflection deformations), reducing crack driving force by 38 load case. The conducted analysis offers valuable insights into lightweight,