A new micromechanical-based hybrid mesoscopic 3D approach has presented for the prediction of failure under triaxial loadings. The failure criterion is based on physical principles and introduces micromechanical aspects (such as the effect of the local debonding) at the mesoscopic scale. It is capable of distinguishing between various modes of failure (e.g. fibre tension, fibre compression, in-plane and through-thickness interfibre (matrix or fibre/matrix failure modes). The model was successfully implemented to provide predictions of failure envelopes and non-linear stress–strain curves of isotropic, unidirectional and mutli-directional laminates made of glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy materials and subjected to 3D loadings, including through-thickness stresses.
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