Examination on Dynamic Bending Characteristics of a CFRP Beam Using a Progressive Fracture Model

Abstract

Energy absorption performance of CFRP is determined by progressive fractures, and it is important to predict the occurrence of the initial fracture inside the ply and its relation with the final fracture mode. Therefore numerical calculations were performed considering a progressive fracture of each ply. In the progressive fracture model, fractures are classified into two kinds - fiber fractures and matrix fractures. When the fracture threshold is reached inside plies, the stiffness value is decreased.The progressive fracture model was applied to dynamic behavior for CAE and the occurrence of fractures and the load characteristics were examined, taking a beam subjected to bending load as an example. This study showed that calculation using the progressive fracture model matched the experimental results in the early stages with an example dynamic bending load.