Numerical Simulation of Composite Laminates Reinforced with Zanchor Technology

摘要

Improving interlaminar fracture toughness is a major concern for reducing the strength risk of composite structures. 'Zanchor' technology was developed as a solution for this risk by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Shikibo Ltd. That is the unique technology for through-thickness reinforcement, where carbon fibers in laminated dry fabrics are entangled to through-thickness direction by special needles. It was found that the technology provides significant reductions of impact damage area and increasing CAI strength. The results of DCB (Double Cantilever Beam) test show the great improvement for mode I interlaminar fracture toughness. In this paper, a new numerical method is developed to evaluate the Zanchor CFRP laminates. The Zanchor locations and density are defined by a simple function of global coordinate in a three dimensional finite element model. Progressive delamination is also considered by using a cohesive interface element. The analytical model with different Zanchor densities is first applied to simple tension tests, and then to the DCB tests. The analysis results of the tension test show the good agreement with the experimental results. The progressive delamination analyses on DCB tests have been conducted and acceptable results were obtained