It has still not been shown that current failure theories can be accurate for all loading configurations, boundary conditions, layups, and thicknesses of composite laminates. A comprehensive discussion is neither available in the most recent bibliographical reviews, nor in the most recent assessments of their accuracy. In this review article, new failure theories, recent improvements to existing theories, and the most relevant contributions to the modeling of failure mechanisms of composites with continuous reinforcement fibers are discussed, together with their recent applications. The most recent physically based practical failure criteria, which use standard engineering quantities, have affordable computational costs and do not require empirical parameters to be examined for a variety of situations. Their predictions are compared to those of generalized failure criteria currently implemented into widespread finite element codes. The objective is to offer designers a guidance of the range of validity of current theories. To enlarge the set of tests for a single theory, the sample test set, i.e., layups, constituent materials, loading configurations, and boundary conditions, and the experimental results used to develop a failure criterion are used for different criteria. The finite element analysis is carried out using three-dimensional (3D), mixed elements capable of very accurately predicting the local stresses. The ply level stresses are computed discretizing the layers by a 3D meshing. The fiber and matrix stresses, which can differ significantly from the ply level stresses, are computed using a local 3D discretization of the constituents. The phase-averaged fiber and matrix stresses and the ply level stresses are used for failure computations. It is seen that generalized failure criteria can be as accurate as physically based failure criteria for some cases, while the opposite occurs for other cases. Likewise, a criterion can be the most accurate for a particular case and inaccurate in other cases. None of the failure criteria considered appeared accurate for all of the cases considered. However, a group of physically based criteria is identified that, collectively, provides quite accurate predictions. These criteria could be used as reciprocal checks. There on 136 references cited in this reivew article.
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March 2007
Review Articles
Assessment of Recent Theories for Predicting Failure of Composite Laminates
U. Icardi,
U. Icardi
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
e-mail: ugo.icardi@.polito.it
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Ugo Icardi graduated Magna cum Laude at Politecnico di Torino in 1982, where he also received his Ph.D. in 1986. He was first employed in the automotive industry, then at the Department of Aerospace Engineering as Assistant Professor, and is currently Associate Professor at Politecnico di Torino. His main research area is the simulation of the response of composite materials and smart structures. He published papers on the dynamic and impact behavior, energy absorption, damage, and failure characteristics of these materials. He was the tutor of coauthors Sergio Locatto and Alessandro Longo when they graduated.
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S. Locatto,
S. Locatto
Grad. Student
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Sergio Locatto is a graduate of Politecnico di Torino. He specialized in structures analysis and got his degree in Aerospace Engineering in October 2004. Developing his thesis, he got the opportunity to collaborate with Professor Ugo Icardi in a research project about the development of methods for predicting the failure of composites. Since March 2005, he has been working as a technical advisor for Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, in the Mechanical System Department.
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A. Longo
A. Longo
Grad. Student
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Alessandro Longo got his degree from Politecnico di Torino in October 2004, specializing in structural analysis in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. During his studies, he collaborated with the Professor Ugo Icardi on a research project oriented to the FE simulation of the failure mechansms of composite materials, whose results are presented in this paper. Since February 2005, he has been working as stress analyst for Assystem Brime Italy.
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U. Icardi
Ugo Icardi graduated Magna cum Laude at Politecnico di Torino in 1982, where he also received his Ph.D. in 1986. He was first employed in the automotive industry, then at the Department of Aerospace Engineering as Assistant Professor, and is currently Associate Professor at Politecnico di Torino. His main research area is the simulation of the response of composite materials and smart structures. He published papers on the dynamic and impact behavior, energy absorption, damage, and failure characteristics of these materials. He was the tutor of coauthors Sergio Locatto and Alessandro Longo when they graduated.
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italye-mail: ugo.icardi@.polito.it
S. Locatto
Grad. Student
Sergio Locatto is a graduate of Politecnico di Torino. He specialized in structures analysis and got his degree in Aerospace Engineering in October 2004. Developing his thesis, he got the opportunity to collaborate with Professor Ugo Icardi in a research project about the development of methods for predicting the failure of composites. Since March 2005, he has been working as a technical advisor for Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, in the Mechanical System Department.
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
A. Longo
Grad. Student
Alessandro Longo got his degree from Politecnico di Torino in October 2004, specializing in structural analysis in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. During his studies, he collaborated with the Professor Ugo Icardi on a research project oriented to the FE simulation of the failure mechansms of composite materials, whose results are presented in this paper. Since February 2005, he has been working as stress analyst for Assystem Brime Italy.
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aeronautica e Spaziale
Politecnico di Torino
Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyAppl. Mech. Rev. Mar 2007, 60(2): 76-86 (11 pages)
Published Online: March 1, 2007
Citation
Icardi, U., Locatto, S., and Longo, A. (March 1, 2007). "Assessment of Recent Theories for Predicting Failure of Composite Laminates." ASME. Appl. Mech. Rev. March 2007; 60(2): 76–86. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2515639
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