The Effect of Scale Dependent Discretization on the Progressive Failure of Composite Materials Using Multiscale Analyses Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • A multiscale modeling methodology, which incorporates a statistical distribution of fiber strengths into coupled micromechanics/ finite element analyses, is applied to unidirectional polymer matrix composites (PMCs) to analyze the effect of mesh discretization both at the micro- and macroscales on the predicted ultimate tensile (UTS) strength and failure behavior. The NASA code FEAMAC and the ABAQUS finite element solver were used to analyze the progressive failure of a PMC tensile specimen that initiates at the repeating unit cell (RUC) level. Three different finite element mesh densities were employed and each coupled with an appropriate RUC. Multiple simulations were performed in order to assess the effect of a statistical distribution of fiber strengths on the bulk composite failure and predicted strength. The coupled effects of both the micro- and macroscale discretizations were found to have a noticeable effect on the predicted UTS and computational efficiency of the simulations.

name of conference

  • 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

published proceedings

  • 54th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference

author list (cited authors)

  • Ricks, T. M., Lacy, T. E., Pineda, E. J., Bednarcyk, B. A., & Arnold, S. M.

citation count

  • 1

complete list of authors

  • Ricks, Trenton M||Lacy, Thomas E||Pineda, Evan J||Bednarcyk, Brett A||Arnold, Steven M

publication date

  • April 2013