Discrete Damage Modeling of Matrix Dominated Failure Including Random Spatial Variation of Strength
Abstract
**Please note that the full text is embargoed** ABSTRACT: Discrete Damage Modeling (DDM) was applied to strength prediction of three
types of composite tape specimens exhibiting rather brittle behavior. These were
transverse tensile coupons, three-point bend 90° coupons and NASA LaRC Clamped
Tapered Beam sub-element. The performed strength predictions are sensitive to the
value of the transverse tensile strength Yt. Deterministic strength predictions required
different values of Yt for realistic prediction of strength for the three specimen
categories. Weibull scaled seeding of transverse tensile strength was introduced to
address this problem. Cohesive Zone Method (CZM) in the field of random initiation
strength distribution was examined and revealed that a finite seed length is required in
order the reproduce brittle behavior. A 0.4mm seed length window was applied and
resulted in realistic predictions of strength in all three specimens based on the
Yt=64MPa measured on standard ASTM 90° coupons and Weibull modulus of a=13.