Analysis of composite structures with distributed and localized damage by the finite-element method

Abstract

A finite-element method of analysis is proposed for the analysis of composite laminates containing transverse cracks. The formulation is particularly simple as the effects of the damage are fully incorporated into the damage vector, which contains the set of internal state variables. Application of the finite-element code is demonstrated through examples of analysis of composite laminates with centrally located holes. Comparison with experimental stress-strain curves show good agreement with the present finite-element results. Furthermore, the finite-element analysis also enables the damage distribution maps to be obtained for each individual layer. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.