Hygroscopic phase field fracture modelling of composite materials

This paper investigates the effect of moisture content upon the degradation behaviour of composite materials. A coupled phase field framework considering moisture diffusion, hygroscopic expansion, and fracture behaviour is developed. This multi-physics framework is used to explore the damage evolution of composite materials, spanning the micro-, meso- and macro-scales. The micro-scale unit-cell model shows how the mismatch between the hygroscopic expansion of fibre and matrix leads to interface debonding. From the meso-scale ply-level model, we learn that the distribution of fibres has a minor influence on the material properties, while increasing moisture content facilitates interface debonding. The macro-scale laminate-level model shows that moisture induces a higher degree of damage on the longitudinal ply relative to the transverse ply. This work opens a new avenue to understand and predict environmentally assisted degradation in composite materials.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the effect of moisture content on the degradation behavior of composite materials. A coupled phase field framework considering moisture diffusion, hygroscopic expansion, and fracture behavior is developed. This multi-physics framework is used to explore the damage evolution of composite materials on the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales. The findings show that the mismatch between the hygroscopic expansion of fiber and matrix leads to interface debonding, increasing moisture content facilitates interface debonding, and moisture induces more damage on the longitudinal ply compared to the transverse ply. This work opens a new avenue for understanding and predicting environmentally assisted degradation in composite materials.