Validation and internal length scale determination for a gradient damage model: application to short glass-fibre-reinforced polypropylene

A strain-based transient-gradient damage model is used to analyse and descr ibe the experimentally observed failure process in a Compact-Tension test c arried out on short glass-fibre-reinforced polypropylene. Several aspects r egarding the nonlocal character of the damage process in the material are e mphasized and the intrinsic length scale is determined using available stra in fields from an experimental analysis. A good agreement between theory an d experiments has been found on a global and on a local level. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.