A damage model for the simulation of delamination in advanced composites under variable-mode loading

• DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2005.10.003
• Publication Date: 2006-02-04T15:52:41Z
• Authors: A. Turon; P.P. Camanho; J. Costa; C.G. Dávila
• Keywords: Delamination; Damage mechanics; Mode (computer interface)

A thermodynamically consistent damage model is proposed for the simulation of progressive delamination in composite materials under variable-mode ratio. The model is formulated in the context of Damage Mechanics. A novel constitutive equation is developed to model the initiation and propagation of delamination. A delamination initiation criterion is proposed to assure that the formulation can account for changes in the loading mode in a thermodynamically consistent way. The formulation accounts for crack closure effects to avoid interfacial penetration of two adjacent layers after complete decohesion. The model is implemented in a finite element formulation, and the numerical predictions are compared with experimental results obtained in both composite test specimens and structural components.