A failure mode dependent continuum damage model for laminated composites with optimized model parameters : Application to curved beams

2025-09-23

AI Summary

To address the challenge of predicting damage evolution in moderately thick laminated composite curved beams, this work proposes a failure-mode-dependent and thermodynamically consistent continuum damage model. The method introduces a polynomial damage hardening function to accurately capture tension–compression asymmetry in damage behavior; model parameters are calibrated against experimental stress–strain data using the steepest descent algorithm. The model is integrated within a finite element framework based on first-order shear deformation theory and solved via the Newton–Raphson method for nonlinear equilibrium. Results demonstrate significant improvements in predicting load–deflection nonlinear degradation, stiffness reduction, and ultimate strength compared with existing damage models. The proposed approach exhibits superior physical consistency—ensuring thermodynamic admissibility and failure-mode specificity—while maintaining practical engineering applicability for structural analysis of curved composite laminates.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Calibration & Uncertainty Quantification
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Conceptual Inference and Reasoning

Application Category

• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Models for Web evolution
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User model development and evaluation

Abstract

In this article, a failure mode dependent and thermodynamically consistent continuum damage model with polynomial-based damage hardening functions is proposed for continuum damage modeling of laminated composite panels. The damage model parameters are characterized based on all uniaxial/shear experimental stress-strain curves. Steepest descent optimization algorithm is used to minimize the difference between model predicted and experimental stress-strain curves to get the optimzed model parameters. The fully characterized damage evolution equations are used for damage prediction of a moderately thick laminated composite curved beam modeled using first-order shear deformation theory. Finite element method with load control is used to get the non-linear algebraic equations which are solved using Newton Raphson method. The developed model is compared with the existing failure mode dependent and failure mode independent damage models. The results depict the efficacy of the proposed model to capture non-linearity in the load vs deflection curve due to stiffness degradation and different damage in tension andcompression consistent with uniaxial/shear stress-strain response and strength properties of the material, respectively.

Problem

• Develops a failure mode dependent continuum damage model for laminated composites
• Optimizes model parameters using experimental stress-strain data and steepest descent algorithm
• Predicts damage in curved composite beams capturing stiffness degradation and nonlinear behavior

Innovation

• Failure mode dependent continuum damage model
• Optimized parameters using steepest descent algorithm
• Finite element analysis with Newton Raphson method