Progressive Failure Analysis of Multi-Directional Composite Laminates Based on the Strain-Rate-Dependent Northwestern Failure Theory

  • Joseph D. Schaefer
  • Brian T. Werner
  • Isaac M. Daniel
Conference paper
First Online:
Part of the Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series book series (CPSEMS)

Abstract

The failure progression of a fiber-reinforced toughened-matrix composite (IM7/8552) was experimentally characterized at quasi-static (10−4 s−1) strain rate using crossply and quasi-isotropic laminate specimens. A progressive failure framework was proposed to benchmark the initiation and progression of damage within composite laminates based on the matrix-dominated failure modes. The Northwestern Failure Theory (NU Theory) was used to provide a set of physics-based failure criteria for predicting the matrix-dominated failure of embedded plies using the lamina-based transverse tension, transverse compression, and shear failure strengths. The NU Theory was used to predict the first-ply-failure (FPF) of embedded plies in [0/904]s and [02/452/−452/902]s laminates for the embedded 90° and 45° plies. The Northwestern Criteria were found to provide superior prediction of the matrix-dominated embedded ply failure for all evaluated cases compared to the classical approaches. The results indicate the potential to use the Northwestern Criteria to provide the predictive baseline for damage propagation in composite laminates based on experimentally identified damage response on a length scale-relevant basis.

Keywords

Composites Failure Strain Rate Northwestern Failure Theory Verification and Validation 
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Notes

Acknowledgement

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Joseph D. Schaefer
    • 1
  • Brian T. Werner
    • 2
  • Isaac M. Daniel
    • 3
  1. 1.The Boeing CompanyBerkeleyUSA
  2. 2.Sandia National LaboratoriesLivermoreUSA
  3. 3.Northwestern UniversityEvanstonUSA

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