Abstract
Hybrid laminates made of polymer matrix composite plies with metal sheet are called fiber metal laminates (FML). In this study, a new numerical approach for the fatigue damage progress of the FML is presented. The layer-wise finite element with cohesive element are used to predict the fatigue damage progress of split, transverse crack and delamination. Four-node cohesive elements are introduced to express the 0° ply splitting and transverse crack. Eight-node cohesive elements are inserted to ply interfaces to represent the delamination. Then, the most important character of this model is that the proposed simulation introduces a damage-mechanics concept into the degradation process in cohesive elements in order to express the damage progress due to the cyclic loading. This enable us to address the complicated fatigue damage process observed in the FML. We applied this model to the Ti/GFRP laminates and compared the simulated results with the experimental data reported in the reference. We confirmed that this model could reproduce the fatigue damage process in the FML. The effects of parameters of cohesive element on Ti crack growth and delamination profile were also investigated. Ti crack growth rate was strongly associated with the delamination profile in the vicinity of the crack tip.
