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Abstract
The simulation of the delamination process in composite structures is quite complex and requires advanced FE modelling techniques. These techniques are difficult to implement when the modelled structures are industrial-size like helicopter blades and sine-wave crash absorber beams. In order to simplify the damage modelling in complex structure, the development of a solid hexahedron element for composite delamination analysis has been carried out. The 8-node solid is derived from a 20-node hexahedron element and it can be transformed into 2 physically independent 4-node shell elements. This separation into two shells which corresponds to the propagation of delamination process was controlled by a delamination beam criterion. This element simplifies present models and decreases the calculation time that is accepted only for 1D propagation of delamination. In this study a new way of modelling delamination growth is proposed.
A delamination criterion based on the Ritz method and plate theory is used to govern the delamination propagation. Experimental tests are carried out on composite structures such as square composite panels in mode I. The crack propagates with an angle of 45 degrees relative to the panel's edge. This test is modelled using the new element. The numerical simulation correlates well with the experimental results.