K. Srirengan et Jd. Whitcomb, FINITE-ELEMENT BASED DEGRADATION MODEL FOR COMPOSITES WITH TRANSVERSEMATRIX CRACKS, Journal of thermoplastic composite materials, 11(2), 1998, pp. 113-123
A degradation model for predicting the effective homogenized three-dim
ensional elastic constants of an interior ply with transverse matrix c
racks was developed by analyzing a three-ply representative volume ele
ment using the finite element method. The degradation model was first
evaluated by comparing the homogenized extensional modulus for a crack
ed [0/(90)(3)](s) laminate with experimental results and finite elemen
t discrete models in which each crack was modeled discretely. Further,
using the degradation model, the prediction of load redistribution fo
r a cantilevered laminated plate with matrix cracks subjected to trans
verse end load was compared with a discrete crack model. Also, the pre
diction of load redistribution in a cracked plain weave composite subj
ected to uniaxial stress was compared with a discrete crack model. The
degradation model showed good agreement in predicting the homogenized
elastic constants and load redistributions.