Comparison of MCT Failure Prediction Techniques and Experimental Verification for Biaxially Loaded Glass Fabric-reinforced Composite Laminates

Abstract

The inability to accurately predict the onset of failure in modern fabric-reinforced composite materials has hindered the implementation of these materials into the mainstream applications. Excessive qualification and structural testing must be performed on composite members as a result of uncertainty in the performance of the material, resulting in significantly higher expenses associated with these materials. This situation can only be improved through the rigorous development of both improved failure and material response prediction capabilities and improved experimental verification. The current study addresses these issues, as well as explores recent developments in numerical predictions and experimental techniques. A combined numerical investigation of damage initiation mechanics and experimental verification of predicted results for a woven glass–vinyl ester composite material is performed. More specifically, 18-oz biased (5 warp/4 fill rovings) plain weave E-glass–vinyl ester laminate with warp rovings oriented in [0/90]_s and [0/90/±45]_s configurations are investigated. Experimental data for the E-glass–vinyl ester [0/90]_s laminate is summarized in a two-dimensional biaxial failure envelope. The feasibility of using thickness-tapered cruciform specimens for generating the experimental biaxial test data is also addressed. Finally, numerical predictions of failure of the fabric-reinforced laminate are developed and compared against the experimental failure envelope for the cross-ply laminate.

Keywords

failure criterion biaxial testing finite element analysis (FEA)microstructure

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hinton, M.J. and Soden, P.D. (1998). Predicting Failure in Composite Laminates: The Background to the Exercise, Composites Science and Technology, 7(58): 1001–1010.

Soden, P.D. , Hinton, M.J. and Kaddour, A.S. (1998). A Comparison of the Predictive Capabilities of Current Failure Theories for Composite Laminates, Composites Science and Technology, 7(58): 1225–1254.

Hinton, M.J. , Kaddour, A.S. and Soden, P.D. (2002). A Comparison of the Predictive Capabilities of Current Failure Theories for Composite Laminates, Judged against Experimental Evidence, Composites Science and Technology, 62(12–13): 1725–1797.

Gosse, J. and Wollschlager, J. (2001). Implicit Physical Modeling of Composite Materials and Bonded Structure, In: Proceedings of the 4th Annual Composite Durability Workshop, August 26–27, Albuquerque, NM, pp. 14–23.

Chen, A.S. and Matthews, F.L. (1993). A Review of Multiaxial/Biaxial Loading Tests for Composite Materials, Composites, 24(5): 395–405.

Hinton, M.J. , Kaddour, A.S. and Soden, P.D. (2002). Evaluation of Failure Prediction in Composite Laminates: Background to ‘Part B’ of the Exercise, Composites Science and Technology, 62(12–13): 1481–1488.

Soden, P.D. , Hinton, M.J. and Kaddour, A.S. (2002). Biaxial Test Results for Strength and Deformation of a Range of E-Glass and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composite Laminates: Failure Exercise Benchmark Data, Composites Science and Technology, 62(12–13): 1489–1514.

Mayes, J.S. (1999). Multicontinuum Failure Analysis of Composite Structural Laminates, PhD Dissertation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.

Welsh, J.S. and Adams, D.F. (1999). Development of a True Triaxial Testing Facility for Composite Materials, Report No. UW-CMRG-R-99-102, Composite Materials Research Group, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, May 1999.

10.

Welsh, J.S. and Adams, D.F. (April 2001). Biaxial and Triaxial Failure Strengths of 6061-T6 Aluminum and AS4/3501-6 Carbon Epoxy Laminates Obtained by Testing Thickness-Tapered Cruciform Specimens, Journal of Composites Technology & Research, JCTRER, 23(2): 111–121.

11.

Welsh, J.S. and Adams, D.F. (2002). An Experimental Investigation of the Biaxial Strength of IM6/3501-6 Carbon/Epoxy Cross-Ply Laminates using Cruciform Specimens, Composites, 33(6): 829–839.

12.

Welsh, J.S. , Mayes, J.S. and Key, C.T. (2002). Damage Initiation Mechanics in Glass Fabric Composites, In: Proceedings of the 43rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 2002, Denver, Colorado, Paper No. AIAA 2002–1742, pp. 22–25.

13.

Mayes, J.S. and Hansen, A.C. (2001). Multicontinuum Failure Analysis of Composite Structural Laminates, Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, 8(4): 249–262.

14.

Key, C.T. (May 2000). A Progressive Failure Analysis of a Plain Weave, Woven Roving, Composite Material, MS Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071.

15.

Garnich, M.R. and Hansen, A.C. (1997). A Multicontinuum Theory for Thermal-Elastic Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials, Journal of Composite Materials, 31(1): 71–86.

16.

Key, C.T. , Six, R.W. and Hansen, A.C. (2003). A Three-Constituent Multicontinuum Theory for Woven Fabric Composite Materials, Composites Science and Technology, 63: 1857–1864.

17.

Hill, R. (1963). Elastic Properties of Reinforced Solids: Some Theoretical Principles, Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 11: 357–372.

18.

Welsh, J.S. and Adams, D.F. (2000). The Development of an Electromechanical Triaxial Test Facility for Composite Materials, Experimental Mechanics, 40(3): 312–320.

19.

Burr, S.T. and Sikarskie, D.L. (1995). Damage Characterization of Woven Composites Under Static Tensile Loading, In: Proceedings of the 1995 SEM Spring Conference and Exhibit, June 1995, Grand Rapids, MI.