Evaluation of Numerical Approaches for the Development of Interlaminar Damage in Composite Laminates

The paper presents the application of a numerical approach to evaluate both the onset as well the propagation of interlaminar damages in composite laminates using finite element explicit analyses. An interface constitutive model is applied within a modeling technique developed to include the interlaminar layers in the finite element schemes of composite laminates. The possibility to model a laminate with different levels of mesh refinement through the laminate thickness is assessed The capability to model the nucleation of interlaminar damage in quasi-static tests is then evaluated considering short beams tests performed on specimens made of fabric composites. The approach is then applied to model the interlaminar damages and failures obtained in bending experiments performed on thick composite specimens. The development of interlaminar fractures in undamaged specimens, their propagation modes and the failure loads appear to be correctly modeled by the approach.