Title: Non-linear strain invariant failure approach for fibre reinforced composite materials

Authors: Kumar D. Mishra; Rani F. El-Hajjar

Addresses: Engineering Mechanics and Composites Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA. ' Engineering Mechanics and Composites Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA

Abstract: The strain invariant failure theory (Gosse and Christensen, 2001) is a micromechanics-based failure theory that depends on computation of critical strain invariants for the fibre and matrix phases. In this paper, a novel approach is developed for including the non-linear effects of the matrix through the implementation of the J2 flow theory for the matrix response. The non-linear isotropic hardening is introduced for the analysis of a non-linear matrix in square and hexagonal fibre packaging geometries. The results are presented for a common type of structural composite made from carbon fibres and an epoxy matrix. The proposed approach is used to predict the stress and strain concentration factors in a multi-cell array and shows the necessity of including the non-linear response in the analytical approach in this theory.

Keywords: micromechanical approaches; unit cells; finite element method; FEM; strain invariant failure theory; SIFT; fibre reinforced composites; p-FEM; nonlinear response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2012.049961

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2012 Vol.6 No.2/3/4, pp.284 - 296

Published online: 18 Sep 2014 *

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