Progressive fatigue damage modelling of fibre-reinforced composite based on fatigue master curves

In this paper, fatigue progressive damage of fibre-reinforced composite is modelled by the present fatigue model, in which the fatigue damage incorporates two parts of the delamination and in-plane damage. The in-plane fatigue life is determined by the method of fatigue master curves. Further, Hashin and cohesive fatigue failure criteria are adopted for the determination of in-plane and delamination failure initiation, respectively. The fatigue master curve successfully predicts the fatigue life of fiber-reinforced composite with arbitrary layup sequence under fatigue loading of arbitrary stress ratio. Moreover, the delamination of interlayer subjected to arbitrary stress ratio is simulated based on the modified cohesive element. Finally, the proposed fatigue finite element model shows good agreements with the experimental data of notched glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite laminate and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite bolted joints.

Automated summary

The paper models fatigue progressive damage in fiber-reinforced composite materials, successfully predicts fatigue life under different layup sequences, and simulates delamination behavior. The proposed fatigue finite element model shows good agreements with experimental data.