A two-dimensional progressive failure analysis of pinned joints in unidirectional-fabric laminated composites

A two-dimensional progressive failure analysis is conducted to predict the failure loads and modes of combined unidirectional-fabric laminated composite joints under pin-loading. The first objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of applying ACOS-J, a two-dimensional progressive damage analysis program, to the strength analysis of composite joints. The second objective is to study how the various failure criteria could be applied, separately or in combination, to pinned joints in combined unidirectional and fabric laminated composites. An eight-node laminated shell element is used for the finite element modeling. Post-failure stiffness is evaluated based on the complete unloading method combined with various failure criteria. A total of 52 specimens with nine different geometries were tested to obtain the experimental strength and failure mode. The results show that a finite element analysis based on the combined Yamada-Sun and Tsai-Wu criteria most accurately predicts the failure loads of the composite laminated joints.