An evaluation of Cuntze and Puck inter fibre failure criteria in simulation of thin CFRP plates subjected to low velocity impact

This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of a continuum damage mechanics-based material model to predict the damage and mechanical response of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites subjected to low velocity impact. Failure mode concept model of Cuntze and Action plane strength model of Puck are employed as inter-fibre failure criteria in combination with non-linear shear behaviour and damage evolution using a user-defined material model in Abaqus/Explicit to account for the progressive damage in laminated composites. A novel approach has been used for the search of the fracture angle of Puck's failure model to decrease the computational time of explicit simulations. Meanwhile, the simpler and less recognized failure model of Cuntze was implemented to simulate the low velocity impact on composites. The capability of the numerical model was established through a set of benchmark simulations on representative volume elements, tensile specimens, and low velocity impact cases. Both failure criteria were able to predict approximately the same shape and area for the matrix damage caused by the low velocity impact. Showing that the failure model of Cuntze is preferable to Puck since it does not require a search algorithm for the fracture angle and is more efficient for explicit simulations.