Simulating DCB, ENF and MMB experiments using shell elements and a cohesive zone model

A delamination model for shell elements is presented. It consists of an adhesive penalty contact formulation for initially tying shells together and a cohesive zone model for degrading the adhesive forces. An adhesive contact used between shell elements has to account for the thickness offset, such that the rotational degrees of freedom in the shell elements are included in the algorithm. This is considered in the present contact model and the complete delamination model is implemented in the explicit Finite Element code LS-DYNA. By preventing delamination growth the delamination model can be turned into a tied contact. As such it is used in two FE-models, where plates are bonded together and subjected to various loads. The adhesive penalty contact performs well. The complete delamination. is validated by simulating the Double Cantilever Beam, End-Notch Flexural and Mixed Mode Bending setups, and the results are shown to be in agreement with experimental data. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.