Benchmark assessment of automated delamination propagation capabilities in finite element codes for static loading

Authors

Adrian C. Orifici, RMIT University
Ronald Krueger, National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Date of this Version

2012

Citation

Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 54 (2012) 28–36; doi:10.1016/j.finel.2012.01.006

Abstract

With the increasing implementation in to commercial finite element(FE) codes of capabilities for simulating delamination propagation in composite materials, the need for benchmarking and assessing these capabilities is critical. In this study, the capabilities of the commercial FE code Marc^TM 2008r1 with implementation of the Virtual Crack Closure Technique(VCCT) was assessed. Benchmark delamination propagation results for several specimen configurations were generated using a numerical approach. Specimens were analyzed with three-dimensional and two-dimensional models, and compared with previous analyses using Abaqus^® with the VCCT implemented. The results demonstrated that the VCCT implementation in Marc^TM was capable of accurately replicating the benchmark delamination growth results. The analyses in Marc^TM were significantly more computationally efficient than previous analyses in Abaqus^®. This was due to a lack of convergence issues, and a solution process that maintained the use of large time increments.