A shell element for the prediction of residual load-carrying capacities due to delamination

This paper deals with layered plates and shells subjected to static loading. The kinematic assumptions are extended by a jump function in dependence of a damage parameter. Additionally, an intermediate layer is arranged at any position of the laminate. This allows numerical simulation of onset and growth of delaminations. The equations of the boundary value problem include besides the equilibrium in terms of stress resultants, the local equilibrium in terms of stresses, the geometric field equations, the constitutive equations, and a constraint which enforces the correct shape of a superposed displacement field through the thickness as well as boundary conditions. The weak form of the boundary value problem and the associated finite element formulation for quadrilaterals is derived. The developed shell element possesses the usual 5 or 6 degrees of freedom at the nodes. This is an essential feature since standard geometrical boundary conditions can be applied and the elements are applicable to shell intersection problems. With the developed model, residual load-carrying capacities of layered shells due to delamination failure are computed.