Intralaminar Damage Model for Laminates Subjected to Membrane and Flexural Deformations

Prediction of transverse damage initiation and evolution for not necessarily symmetric laminates under membrane and/or bending loads is the subject of this work. The laminate stiffness reduction is computed via crack opening displacement (COD) methods and the generalization to multiple cracking laminas is made via continuum damage mechanics (CDM) concepts. Using available COD solutions combined with homogenization techniques leads to an analytical constitutive model capable of predicting the initiation and evolution of crack density versus applied strain, as well as laminate modulus degradation, not only for symmetric laminates subjected to membrane deformation but also for general laminates subjected to flexural deformations as well. To adjust the model parameters, experimental data is required in the form of crack density, or modulus reduction, versus strain for two laminates of the same material system. Then, the model is capable of predicting crack density and modulus degradation for other laminate stacking sequences. The model takes into account crack closure, which is important under flexure, as well as the case of the center lamina straddling the neutral axis. The effect of thermal stresses is incorporated in the formulation.