Application of DQM as an effective simulation tool for buckling response of delaminated composite plates

The application of differential quadrature method (DQM), as an effective and robust numerical method, for the analysis of buckling of delaminated composite plates is introduced. The analysis investigated the response of laminated composite plates hosting a circular or an elliptical delamination. The delaminations were assumed to be fairly thinner than the plate hosting them, and thus, they could be treated as plates with clamped edges. Several case studies were used to verify the integrity of DQM in predicting the buckling strain of the plates. The investigation included the examination of several parameters influencing the buckling strength. The results obtained from DQM were compared with those obtained by the Rayleigh–Ritz and finite element solutions of other workers.     

基于弯曲刚度最大分层临界载荷的层压板局部屈曲预测

提出了一种预测含特定分层损伤层压板发生局部屈曲时整体应变的方法。认为含分层子板的局部屈曲载荷由其弯曲刚度最大的分层决定, 因而含有相同最大弯曲刚度分层的不同子板具有相同的屈曲载荷。在已知弯曲刚度最大分层的屈曲载荷的情况下, 根据层压板的轴向刚度公式, 计算出发生局部屈曲时弯曲刚度最大的分层与完好的基板分别承受的载荷, 即得到总载荷, 进而得到层压板的整体应变。用ABAQUS有限元分析软件建立含分层损伤的层压板模型, 使用准静态加载进行了多种分层深度和分层位置下的局部屈曲仿真, 所得局部屈曲载荷符合上述推论。用所提方法预测发生局部屈曲时的整体应变, 结果与有限元结果吻合较好, 此方法可用于建立分层参数识别的参照样本库。     

Strength reduction and delamination growth in thin and thick composite plates under compressive loading

In this paper, the coupled local-global buckling behavior in laminated composite plates with elliptic delaminations and the associated mechanisms of delamination growth under compressive loads are critically examined. The J-integral technique is used for delamination growth prediction in terms of pointwise energy release rate distribution along the delamination edge. A Multi-plate model, in conjunction with a 3-noded quasi-conforming shell element, is used to model the delaminated plates. The incremental equilibrium equations are set up based on total Lagrangian formulation. The solution strategy incorporates Gauss elimination in a cycle of Newton-Raphson iterations and is augmented with automated arc-length controled load incrementation and equilibrium iterations; and with automated post-buckling path tracing based on a linearised asymptotic solution. The effects of structural parameters such as delamination thickness, size and shape, on the post-buckling behavior and on the delamination growth are critically examined.This work was supported by the FAA to the Center of Excellence for Computational Modeling of Aircraft Structures at Georgia Institute of Technology, and in part by a grant from ONR.     

Delamination buckling of laminated plates

The subject of this paper is the buckling of laminated plates, with a pre-existing delamination, subjected to in-plane loading. Each laminate is modelled as an orthotropic Mindlin plate. The analysis is carried out by a combination of the finite element and asymptotic expansion methods. By applying the finite element method, plates with general delamination regions can be studied. The asymptotic expansion method reduces the number of unknown variables of the eigenvalue equation to that of the equation for a single Kirchhoff plate. Numerical results for the critical buckling load are presented for several examples. The effects of the shape, size and position of the delamination on the buckling load are studied through these examples.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of free vibration of multilayer delaminated composite beams and plates

The use of vibration-monitoring techniques as non-destructive methods for detection of delaminations in layered composite beam and plate structures is a current field of interest for many researchers. However, an extensive search of published literature shows that information on numerical and especially experimental investigations into the dynamic behaviour of delaminated layered composite beams and plates is limited. For this reason the present authors have developed theoretical models and carried out an extensive experimental investigation to establish changes in the first three bending natural frequencies due to delaminations. The subsequent results of these numerical calculations are consistent with the results of the corresponding experimental investigations. As the result of this work models of a finite delaminated beam element and delaminated plate element have been developed. The method of modelling delaminations presented in this work enables its easy modification according to specific cases of damage (i.e. multiple delaminations). Received 12 December 99     

Straight-sided, buckling-driven delamination of thin films at high stress levels

The fracture mechanics of a straight-sided, thin film delamination at stress levels, which are high compared to the stress required to initiate the delamination is investigated. Buckling at a bifurcation point of the delaminated region, resulting from incompletely relieved stresses in this region, is analysed by a semi- analytical approach for delaminations of infinite extent. The results are compared to numerical predictions based on finite element calculations for finite sized delaminations. The finite element calculations are carried out in the post-buckling regime showing that parts of the crack front will close as a result of bifurcation buckling, while other parts will experience enhanced energy release rate and mode I stress intensity factor. The mode III stress intensity factor is shown to be negligible at the stress levels analysed.     

Modelling delaminations in postbuckling stiffened composite shear panels

 A method has been developed to predict the effect of delaminations in a postbuckling stiffened structure manufactured from laminated composite materials. The emphasis of the technique, driven by aircraft certification requirements, was towards establishing whether delamination growth would initiate under given loading conditions. A geometric nonlinear finite element analysis was used to calculate the strain energy release rate around the circumference of a circular delamination using the virtual crack closure technique. In order to deal with the complex structural response in a computationally efficient manner, the structure was modelled using plate elements with two layers of plate elements used in the delaminated region. The effect of delamination size on the strength of postbuckling panels was shown to be a complex phenomenon in which trends were difficult to predict. Large delaminations could significantly affect the global and sub-laminate buckling modes and therefore be less critical than smaller delaminations. It was concluded that the method could accurately predict the load and location at which delamination growth would initiate, given suitable critical strain energy release rate data. Received 16 February 2000     

Delamination buckling and postbuckling in composite cylindrical shells under combined axial compression and external pressure

A series of finite element analyses on the delaminated composite cylindrical shells subject to combined axial compression and pressure are carried out varying the delamination thickness and length, material properties and stacking sequence. Based on the FE results, the characteristics of the buckling and postbuckling behaviour of delaminated composite cylindrical shells are investigated. The combined double-layer and single-layer of shell elements are employed which in comparison with the three-dimensional finite elements requires less computing time and space for the same level of accuracy. The effect of contact in the buckling mode has been considered, by employing contact elements between the delaminated layers. The interactive buckling curves and postbuckling response of delaminated cylindrical shells have been obtained. In the analysis of post-buckled delaminations, a study using the virtual crack closure technique has been performed to find the distribution of the local strain energy release rate along the delamination front. The results are compared with the previous results obtained by the author on the buckling and postbuckling of delaminated composite cylindrical shells under the axial compression and external pressure, applied individually.     

Simulation of delamination–migration and core crushing in a CFRP sandwich structure

Following the onset of damage caused by an impact load on a composite laminate structure, delaminations often form propagating outwards from the point of impact and in some cases can migrate via matrix cracks between plies as they grow. The goal of the present study is to develop an accurate finite element modeling technique for simulation of the delamination–migration phenomena in laminate impact damage processes. An experiment was devised where, under a quasi-static indentation load, an embedded delamination in the facesheet of a laminate sandwich specimen migrates via a transverse matrix crack and then continues to grow on a new ply interface. Using data from this test for validation purposes, several finite element damage simulation methods were investigated. Comparing the experimental results with those of the different models reveals certain modeling features that are important to include in a numerical simulation of delamination–migration and some that may be neglected.     

带脱层复合材料层板的低速冲击响应

研究了含脱层损伤的复合材料层板在低速冲击下的瞬态响应问题。首先,用基于Mindlin板理论的有限元法来描述层板的运动和变形,并同时考虑了层板大变形的影响。另外,用一种修正的Hertzian压痕法则来计算层板和刚球间的冲击力。同时为了有效地处理脱层间的动态接触问题,采用了由笔者以前提出的一种修正的Lagrange multiplier乘子法来提高计算精度和效率;为了研究脱层的扩展机理,提出了一种基于Mindlin板模型的应变能释放率的计算方法,用于计算脱层前沿的应变能释放率的分布。最后,算例研究了刚球的初始冲击速度、脱层面积和脱层位置对计算结果的影响,算例中提供的信息为人们更好地理解脱层损伤的扩展机理和它对复合材料层板的低速冲击响应的影响提供了依据。     

Failure analysis of multiple delaminated composite plates due to bending and impact

The present work aims at the first ply failure analysis of laminated composite plates with arbitrarily located multiple delaminations subjected to transverse static load as well as impact. The theoretical formulation is based on a simple multiple delamination model. Conventional first order shear deformation is assumed using eight-noded isoparametric quadratic elements to develop the finite element analysis procedure. Composite plates are assumed to contain both single and multiple delaminations. For the case of impact, Newmark time integration algorithm is employed for solving the time dependent multiple equations of the plate and the impactor. Tsai-Wu failure criterion is used to check for failure of the laminate for both the cases. To investigate the first ply failure, parametric studies are made for different cases by varying the size and number of delaminations as well as the stacking sequences and boundary conditions.     

具有分层损伤复合材料加筋与无加筋层合板热-机械力屈曲性态

基于复合材料一维剪切理论——Mindlin 理论, 给出了材料性质与温度有关的含分层损伤复合材料加筋和无加筋层合板的线性和非线性热-机械力耦合情况下的屈曲问题有限元分析方法, 并研究了含分层损伤的加筋和无加筋层合板的两种不同类型的热- 机械力屈曲问题。通过典型算例分析, 讨论了热-机械力耦合效应和分层大小对含分层损伤结构的屈曲性态的影响关系。     

Transient analysis and control of delaminated composite plates in hygrothermal environment using active fiber composite actuator

Abstract

In the present article, the transient analysis and control of delaminated composite plates under hazardous environmental conditions using active fiber composite (AFC) is discussed. Top and bottom layers of the laminated composite plate are embedded AFC layers. The present investigation utilizes AFC as an actuator and sensor. A finite element model for centrally located delamination is developed and coded in Matlab. The proportional controller is used to control the undesirable response in real time. The transient response of the smart delaminated plate is studied for different temperatures and moisture conditions. The feedback control of the dynamic response is performed with the help of velocity and displacement feedback gain to the AFC actuator. The key observations from the numerical studies are; the dynamic response and the frequency response of composite plate increase due to delamination and also with the increase of the temperature and moisture concentrations. The response reduces when the feedback control loop is activated. So, the overall performance of the delaminated plate structure in hygrothermal environment may be enhanced.     

A higher order plate theory for dynamic stability analysis of delaminated composite plates

A higher order shear deformation theory is used to investigate the instability associated with delaminated composite plates subject to dynamic loads. Both transverse shear and rotary inertia effects are taken into account. The procedure is implemented using the finite element method. Delamination is modeled using the penalty parameter approach. The natural frequencies are computed and compared with NASTRAN 3D results and available experimental data. The effect of delamination on the critical buckling load and the first two instability regions is investigated for various loading conditions, plate thickness and boundary conditions. As expected the natural frequencies and the critical buckling load of the delaminated plate are lower than those of the nondelaminated plate. They decrease with increase in delamination length. Increase in delamination length causes instability regions to be shifted to lower parametric resonance frequencies and the normalized width of the instability regions to increase.     

Dynamics of cracked composite material structures

As the result of this work models of the finite cracked beam element, delaminated beam element, and also delaminated plate element have been developed. These models have been used for the analysis of the influence of the fatigue cracks and delaminations on the dynamic characteristics of the constructions made of unidirectional composite materials. The method of modelling cracks and delaminations presented in this work enables its easy modification according to specific cases of damage (i.e. oblique crack, two-side crack, inside crack, multiple delaminations etc.). The results obtained from numerical calculations of the presented models are in good agreement with the known influence of damage parameters like: the position and the depth of the crack or the length and the position of the delamination on the natural frequencies. Simultaneously, a strong influence of the material parameters on these changes has been observed, which does not exist in the case of isotropic materials.     

Buckling and Delamination Growth Analysis of Composite Laminates Containing Embedded Delaminations

The objective of this work is to study the post buckling behavior of composite laminates, containing embedded delamination, under uniaxial compression loading. For this purpose, delamination initiation and propagation is modeled using the softening behavior of interface elements. The full layer-wise plate theory is also employed for approximating the displacement field of laminates and the interface elements are considered as a numerical layer between any two adjacent layers which delamination is expected to propagate. A finite element program was developed and the geometric non-linearity in the von karman sense is incorporated to the strain/displacement relations, to obtain the buckling behavior. It will be shown that, the buckling load, delamination growth process and buckling mode of the composite plates depends on the size of delamination and stacking sequence of the laminates.     

含分层损伤复合材料加筋层合板的动承载能力

采用有限元方法研究了含穿透分层损伤复合材料加筋层合板的动力响应和承载能力。根据复合材料层合板一阶剪切理论, 推导了复合材料层合板单元的刚度阵和质量阵列式;同时采用Adams 应变能法与Rayleigh阻尼模型相结合的方法, 构造了相应的阻尼阵列式;为了防止在低阶模态中分层处出现的上、下子板不合理的嵌入现象, 建立了含分层损伤复合材料加筋层合板动力分析中分层分析模型和虚拟界面联接模型。并采用Tsai提出的刚度退化准则和动力响应分析的精细积分法, 对在动荷载作用下含分层损伤复合材料加筋层合板结构进行了破坏和承载能力分析。通过典型算例分析, 分别讨论了外载频率、分层深度、筋的位置以及破坏过程中刚度退化对含损伤复合材料加筋层合板动力响应特征和承载能力的影响, 得到了一些具有理论和工程价值的结论。     

An analysis of delamination behaviour

Laminated composites can be damaged by foreign object impacts that produce a subsurface delamination. Under certain loading conditions these delaminations can grow and ultimately produce structural failure. In this study it was found that delamination growth results from crack propagation that depends on the stress field at the crack front produced by buckling of the delaminated section. This result was confirmed by three independent analyses. First was the development of an analytical model based on buckling and classical fracture mechanics. Second was the development and solution of a finite element model of the crack front. Third was an experimental study of laminated aluminum sheets with a well-defined delamination.     

Formulation of reference surface element and its applications in dynamic analysis of delaminated composite beams

This paper presents a new finite element formulation, referred to as reference surface element (RSE) model, for numerical prediction of dynamic behaviour of delaminated composite beams and plates using the finite element method. The RSE formulation can be readily incorporated into all elements based on the Timoshenko beam theory and the Reissner–Mindlin plate theory taking into account the transverse shear deformations. The ‘free model' and ‘constrained model' for dynamic analysis of delaminated composite beams and/or plates have been unified in this RSE formulation. The RSE formulation has been applied to an existing 2-node Timoshenko beam element taking into account the transverse shear deformations and the bending–extension coupling. Frequencies and vibration mode shapes are determined through solving an eigenvalue problem. Numerical results show that the present RSE model is reliable and practical when used to predict frequencies and mode shapes of delaminated composite beams. The RSE formulation has also been used to investigate the effects of the number, size and interfacial loci of delaminations on frequencies and mode shapes of composite beams.