Fatigue analysis of notched laminates: A time-efficient macro-mechanical approach

Abstract

A coupled, transversely isotropic, deformation and damage fatigue model has been implemented within the finite element method and utilized, along with a static progressive damage model, to predict the fatigue life, stiffness degradation as a function of number of cycles, and post-fatigue tension and compression response of notched, multidirectional laminates. The material parameters for the fatigue model were obtained utilizing ply-level classical lamination theory simulations and the provided [0], [90] and [±45] experimental composite laminate S–N data. Within the fatigue damage model, the transverse and shear stiffness properties of the plies were degraded with an isotropic scalar damage variable. The stiffness damage in the longitudinal (fiber) ply direction was suppressed, and instead the strength of the fiber was degraded as a function of fatigue cycles. A maximum strain criterion was used to capture the failure in each element, and once this criterion was satisfied, the longitudinal stiffness of the element was eliminated. The resulting, degraded properties were then used to calculate the new stress state. This procedure was repeated until final failure of the composite laminate was achieved or a specified number of cycles was reached. For post-fatigue tension and compression behavior, four internal state variables were used to control the damage and failure. The predictive capability of the above-mentioned approach was assessed by performing blind predictions of notched multidirectional IM7/977-3 composite laminate response under fatigue and post-fatigue tensile and compressive loading, followed by a recalibration phase. Tabulated data along with detailed results (i.e. stress–strain curves as well as damage evolution states at given number of cycles compared to experimental data) for all laminates are presented.