Benchmarking of triaxial failure criteria for composite laminates: Comparison between models of ‘Part (A)’ of ‘WWFE-II’

As a part of the Second World-Wide Failure Exercise, the originators (or their collaborators) of three-dimensional failure theories applied their methods to 12 carefully selected challenging problems (test cases). In this article, the ‘blind’ theoretical predictions from 12 failure theories, making the backbone of Part (A) of the Second World-Wide Failure Exercise, are compiled in a structured manner. Key features in each theory are identified including: types of failure models employed, whether linear or nonlinear analysis was carried out, reliance on software and numerical methods, allowance for thermal stresses and identification of modes of failure. The results (failure envelopes and stress–strain curves) have been superimposed to show similarities and differences between the predictions of the various theories. In addition, bar charts have been constructed to demonstrate the levels of agreement between the predicted failure stresses and strains. Sources of differences between the predictions of the various three-dimensional failure theories are discussed. Further publications are planned in Part B in which comparison will be made between the predictions described here and the experimental results.