Simulation of damage on carbon fibre laminates using the Ladevèze material model

Abstract

This paper focuses on the development of a numerical model based on the Ladevèze material model for the design of purposely introduced weak points/defects and the prediction and manipulation of its failure response. To identify mechanical properties and damage parameters mechanical testing on carbon prepreg coupons was carried out. The experimental work involved tensile testing at 0°, compression testing at 0°, cyclic in-plane shear testing at ±45°,+45° and ±67.5° fibre orientation. The cyclic tests involved five load-unload cycles with increasing load levels for the identification of the elastic damaging behaviour and furthermore the inelastic behaviour of the system. Mode I and Mode II samples were also manufactured for the characterisation of fracture toughness and the description of delamination. Out of these tests the identified material parameters, damage and coupling factors were introduced on the model. The model which was implemented in the Pam-CrashTM [1] finite element solver was verified for fibre damage under tension and compression. The case of shear loading was also studied and verified taking into account matrix shear and transverse damage evolution, which are coupled through the implementation of a factor.