Influence of Element Size on Damage Growth Simulation Based on FEM

摘要

In damage growth simulation methods for composite laminates based on FEM, damage due to matrix cracking and fiber breaking is generally replaced into stiffness degradation of the elements. It is known that the element size affects the damage growth and load-displacement relationship. The decision of proper element size is, however, difficult because it depends on the modeling of the fracture modes sentenced above. In this study, damage growths of various element sizes are simulated, and damage growth and load-displacement relationship are compared to experimental results. As a result, a guideline to improve results is obtained.