Damage evolution in the gauge theory with applications to fibrous composites

The present work utilizes the gauge theory of damage, within the framework of continuum damage mechanics, to obtain the damage variables as solutions to field equations. The Lagrangian in the gauge theory is modified to include spatial and time derivatives of the damage potentials resulting in Euler-Lagrange field equations for the damage potentials. The finite element method is employed to solve the field equations by approximately stationarizing the action integral of the total Lagrangian. Progressive damage is modeled by incorporating a micromechanics based failure surface analysis for initiation of different damage modes. Finally material parameters obtained from uniaxial testing are used to predict damage development in a composite plate with a center hole under applied mechanical loading.

Damage evolution in the gauge theory with applications to fibrous composites Conference Paper