2-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF COMPOSITE PINNED-JOINT FAILURE

The modeling of damage in a laminated composite pinned-joint presents many difficulties because of the inherent complexity of the failure pr ocess. The joint area is a region with stress concentrations thus a co mplicated stress state exists. In order to model progressive damage fr om initial to final failure, finite element methods are used rather th an closed form stress analyses. Two approaches for the finite element technique can be used: a simple two-dimensional linear model or one th at has been enhanced with non-linear assumptions. Adding non-linear ma terial behaviour and large deformation theory are two improvements tha t can be made to a linear finite element model. Failure analysis must be a logical combination of suitable failure criteria and appropriate material property degradation rules. It is understood that a three-dim ensional analysis may now be a better alternative, but the goal here i s to fully understand the limits of two-dimensional modeling for solvi ng the composite pinned-joint problem.