In Search of a Time Efficient Approach to Crack and Delamination Growth Predictions in Composites

摘要

Analysis benchmarking was used to assess the accuracy and time efficiency ofalgorithms suitable for automated delamination growth analysis. First, the FloatingNode Method (FNM) was introduced and its combination with a simple exponentialgrowth law (Paris Law) and Virtual Crack Closure technique (VCCT) was discussed.Implementation of the method into a user element (UEL) in Abaqus/Standard® wasalso presented. For the assessment of growth prediction capabilities, an existingbenchmark case based on the Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimen was brieflysummarized. Additionally, the development of new benchmark cases based on theMixed-Mode Bending (MMB) specimen to assess the growth prediction capabilitiesunder mixed-mode I/II conditions was discussed in detail. A comparison waspresented, in which the benchmark cases were used to assess the existing low-cyclefatigue analysis tool in Abaqus/Standard® in comparison to the FNM-VCCT fatiguegrowth analysis implementation. The low-cycle fatigue analysis tool inAbaqus/Standard® was able to yield results that were in good agreement with the DCBbenchmark example. Results for the MMB benchmark cases, however, only capturedthe trend correctly. The user element (FNM-VCCT) always yielded results that werein excellent agreement with all benchmark cases, at a fraction of the analysis time. Theability to assess the implementation of two methods in one finite element codeillustrated the value of establishing benchmark solutions.