Damage modeling in Fiber reinforced polymer composites

 Numerical models, if designed, implemented, and used carefully, can be helpful not only to understand the mechanisms and mechanics of damage growth but also to predict the susceptibility of a structure to failure. A solid-like shell element is used to obtain a three-dimensional stress state in fiber-reinforced laminated composites for accurate simulation of delamination damage. The shell element is extended to model mesh-independent matrix cracking by incorporating a discontinuity in the shell mid-surface, shell director, and thickness stretching field. A progressive failure model is developed which is able to simulate impact-induced damage in laminated composites. This is achieved by combining the discontinuous shell model with a shell interface element to describe progressive failure in laminate analyses.

Delamination and matrix cracking in FRP composite laminated plate subjected to transverse load

Damage in FRP laminated cylinder

Dynamic crack propagation in FRP plate