Damage Propagation Analysis of CFRP Laminate by Quasi-3D XFEM using Cohesive Zone Models

Abstract

The quasi-three-dimensional XFEM is applied to damage propagation analyses of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) laminate. Six-node triangular interface element and six-node pentahedral continuum element enriched with Heaviside function are employed to model delamination and matrix crack, respectively. Bi-linear type cohesive zone model is introduced between delamination and/or matrix crack and then implicit static or explicit dynamic method is utilized to solve system equations considering materially nonlinearity. Code verification was performed through DCB, ENF and TCT test specimen analyses and damage propagation analyses of NHT (No Hole Tension) and OHT (Open Hole Tension) test specimens were validated by comparison with experiment results. In addition, computation conditions for explicit dynamic analysis including mass scaling and energy balance, Zig-zag CZM, and threshold parameter of crack shape definition were examined. It was shown that implicit static method using Zig-zag CZM is the most efficient for damage propagation analysis using the proposed method.