A Three-dimensional Damage Model for Transversely Isotropic Composite Laminates

This article proposes a fully three-dimensional continuum damage model, developed at the sub-ply level, to predict in an integrated way both the intralaminar and the interlaminar failure mechanisms that occur in laminated fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The constitutive model is based on the assumption that the composite material is transversely isotropic, and accounts for the effects of crack closure under load reversal cycles. The damage model is implemented in an implicit finite element code taking into account the requirement to ensure a mesh-independent computation of the dissipated energy. The comparison between the model predictions and published experimental data indicates that the model can accurately predict the effects of transverse matrix cracks on the residual stiffness of quasi-isotropic laminates, the interaction between transverse matrix cracks and delamination, and final failure of the laminate.