Progressive damage modeling in carbon fibers/carbon nanotubes reinforced polymer composites

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Engineering, 2017-03, Vol.112, p.185-195
• Main Authors: Tarfaoui, M., El Moumen, A., Lafdi, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Damage mechanics; Delamination; Engineering Sciences; Finite elements analysis; Laminates; Materials
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.12.056

Damage in carbon fibers/Epoxy laminate composites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is described. This investigation presents the third part of paper series on composite materials based CNTs. Experimental characterization and numerical homogenizations were published in order to obtain effective elastic orthotropic properties. Therefore, the homogenized properties are used as input data for investigation of damage initiation and propagations in the specimens for Open Hole tensile tests. The numerical intralaminar damage model is created under ABAQUS software with Hashin's criteria. The model is formulated according to damage mechanics. The prediction of ply delamination in laminated composites containing CNTs is modeled by using interface elements. The numerical approach is based on the cohesive zone model, provides an efficient description of the delamination growth. The numerical study is performed in the quasi-static regime and an implicit finite element scheme is used. The force-displacement curves obtained numerically shows a good agreement with the experimental. Figure: Numerical simulation of damage progressive in composites with carbon nanotubes. [Display omitted] •Damage modeling in laminate composites based carbon nanotubes is proposed.•Numerical intralaminar damage model is created and confronted to experimental results.•Numerical approach is based on the cohesive zone model.•The effect of carbon nanotubes on matrix and fiber damages is studied.