A DAMAGE COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH FOR COMPOSITES - BASIC ASPECTS AND MICROMECHANICAL RELATIONS

The basic aspects of a damage mechanics approach for composites, capab le of simulating complete fracture phenomena, are presented. First, fo r two material examples, ceramic composites and laminate composites, m odelling difficulties and state-of-art modelling are outlined. Damage models with delay effects combined with a dynamic analysis are then in troduced. Their possibilities are illustrated on one-dimensional bar p roblems. More complex examples, computed with a F. E code specific to laminate damage analysis, are also highligted.