Multiscale modelling of composite laminates with voids through the direct FE 2 method

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Christoff, BG (Author) Other; Almeida, JHS Jr (Author) Other; Ribeiro, ML (Author) Other; Maciel, MM (Author) Other; Rui Miranda Guedes (Author) FEUP; Tita, V (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics

Vol. 131

ISSN: 0167-8442

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-AFD

DOI: 10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104424

Abstract (EN): A concurrent multiscale method, namely the direct FE 2 , is developed to analyse the mechanical response of fibre -reinforced composites with several void fractions in a nested manner, one at the macro and another one at the microscale. The FE 2 is developed through the finite element (FE) mesh at the macro scale, wherein there is a representative volume element (RVE) at every Gauss point where the strains and stresses are evaluated. The RVEs, located at macroscopic FE mesh, with linear boundary conditions applied to the boundary nodes, are linked to macro -scale nodes via Multi -Point Constraints (MPCs). This procedure enables solving a single equilibrium problem, with boundary conditions and loadings at the macro scale and provides data for all defined RVEs. The methodology is applied to a composite laminate under transverse tension. Initially, the method is evaluated to compare the results from the FE 2 with those from analyses where the entire domain is discretised (conventional FE full-scale modelling). The stresses obtained from the FE 2 method match traditional FE analyses but utilise a significantly lower number of finite elements, resulting in substantial computational cost savings. It follows a parametric study of void distribution effects within the RVE. Afterwards, the stress distribution within the RVE is assessed and then failure of the composites is predicted at the macro scale through the stresses and strains concurrently calculated at the micro -scale.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14