Multi-phase-field modelling of the elastic and buckling behaviour of laminates with ply cracks

The phase-field theory is a well-known mathematical model for solving interface problems, including crack problems in fracture mechanics. In this study, the formula is derived by variational approaches based on the Reissner-Mindlin plate kinematics and the multiphase-field theory for simulation of the buckling phenomenon in cracked laminates. Phasefield parameters are defined independently in different plies of laminate to capture the crack behavior of each ply. Simulation is carried out to numerically investigate the stiffness reduction and buckling behavior of transverse cracked laminated composite plates. This paper focuses on the consideration of laminated composite plates, which have a crack in each layer. Therefore, this work is more complicated than the case of the plate has one crack throughout the plate thickness. The significant advancement of the phase-field approach for laminated composite plates with complex crack geometries is demonstrated. The phase-field theory is a well-known mathematical model for solving interface problems, including crack problems in fracture mechanics. In this study, the formula is derived by variational approaches based on the Reissner-Mindlin plate kinematics and the multiphase-field theory for simulation of the buckling phenomenon in cracked laminates. Phase field parameters are defined independently in different plies of laminate to capture the crack behavior of each ply. Simulation is carried out to numerically investigate the stiffness reduction and buckling behavior of transverse cracked laminated composite plates. This paper focuses on the consideration of laminated composite plates, which have a crack in each layer. Therefore, this work is more complicated than the case of the plate has one crack throughout the plate thickness. The significant advancement of the phase-field approach for laminated composite plates with complex crack geometries is demonstrated. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The phase-field theory is a well-known mathematical model for solving interface problems, including crack problems in fracture mechanics. In this study, the formula is derived and simulated to capture the crack behavior of each ply in laminated composite plates with buckling phenomenon. The research focuses on laminated composite plates with cracks in each layer.