Three-Dimensional Elastic-Plastic Analysis of the Interlaminar Stresses for the AS4/PEEK Composite Laminate with a Circular Hole

Abstract

Considering the thermoplastic AS4/PEEK laminate with a hole, the suitable finite element model is selected. Making use of the developed three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element procedure, the numerical simulation of the mechanical behaviors for the thick AS4/PEEK composite laminate is carried out. The interlaminar stresses along the hole edge at different interfaces are obtained and presented. The critical locations prone to delamination are predicted. The research results indicate that delamination at the hole edge of the interface 90/0 tends to take place due to existence of maximum interlaminar tensile stresses together with larger interlaminar shear stresses; and the next critical position exists at the interface −45/90.

Keywords:

• three-dimensional elastic-plasticity
• interlaminar stresses
• finite element modeling
• hole
• free-edge effect
• AS4/PEEK laminate

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are grateful for the support of the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10772049, No. 10672042, No. 10572103), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 06ZR14009), the Pujiang Scholar Program, and the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai post-doctor.