A study of failure analysis of composite profile with open cross-section under axial compression
Patryk Różyło
Quarterly No. 4, 2018 pages 210-216
DOI:
keywords: progressive failure analysis, CFRP, stiffness material degradation, uniaxial compression
abstract The paper presents an experimental and numerical study investigating the load carrying capacity of thin-walled composite structures with an omega-shaped cross-section subjected to axial compression. The tested profile was made of carbon-epoxy laminate with symmetrical arrangement of the layers [0/90/0/90]s. The experimental tests were performed on a universal testing machine - Zwick Z100, under full load conditions until total failure of the structure. The post-critical equilibrium paths of the construction were determined, defining the relationship between compressive load and deflection and enabling the FE models to be validated. Based on the obtained post-critical equilibrium paths, the critical load of the construction was determined using well-known approximation methods. Simultaneously, numerical analysis was carried out by the finite element method using Abaqus® software. The critical state was determined via linear eigenvalue analysis, and the critical load and corresponding first buckling mode were estimated. The next stage of numerical analysis involved solving the nonlinear stability problem of the structure with initialized geometric imperfection reflecting the first buckling mode of the composite material. The geometrically non-linear problem was solved by the Newton-Raphson method. The load capacity of the composite profile in the post-buckling state was determined by the progressive failure criterion which estimates damage initiation in the composite material using the Hashin criterion. Progressive failure analysis is described with the energy criterion describing the stiffness degradation of finite elements. The obtained numerical simulation results showed very high correspondence with the presented experimental results conducted on real structures, which confirms the precise preparation of the developed numerical models of the composite structures.