Study of damage evolutions in composite plates subjected to bending loads using micro-macro analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a computer program that will predict the damage progression in composite plates subjected to bending loads. Kwon's micromechanical model is used to compute the smeared effective moduli from the material properties of fiber and matrix as well as to determine stresses at the constituent level. Failure criteria based on micro-stresses are then applied to determine the extent and type of damage that occur in the composite under various loading conditions. The progression of damage throughout the composite until complete failure of the composite can then be simulated using the current computer program. The numerical prediction for a laminated composite plate containing a hole and subjected to a bending load agrees well with the experimental data.