A comparison between the predictive capability of matrix cracking, damage and failure criteria for fibre reinforced composite laminates: Part A of the third world-wide failure exercise

Abstract

This paper provides a set of concluding remarks on Part A of the third world-wide failure exercise where a comparison has been made between the capabilities of 12 different mathematical models for predicting the evolution of matrix cracking, damage and failure in continuous fibre-reinforced polymer composites when subjected to multi-axial loading. The originators (or their collaborators) of those theories have employed their methods to 13 carefully selected challenging problems (test cases) addressing the cracking and damage evolution arising from ply thickness, lay-up sequence, size effects and a variety of loading conditions (biaxial, bending, thermal loading and loading-unloading) of a number of unidirectional and multi-directional glass and carbon epoxy laminates. These covered eight different lay-ups consisting of 0°, [0°/90°/0°], [0°/90°8/0°], [0°/90°]s, [±45°]s, [±50°]s, [30°/90°/−30°/90°]s and a family of [0°m/45°m/90°m/−45°m]s, [45°/0°/90°/−45°]s and [0°/45°/−45°/90°]s quasi-isotropic laminates. Key features in each theory are identified including: types of damage models employed, whether linear or nonlinear analysis was carried out, reliance on software and numerical methods and identification of modes of damage. The results of stress–strain curves, crack density and damage curves have been superimposed and bar charts were constructed to show similarities and differences between the predictions of the various theories.