Dynamic Crack Propagation in Fiber Reinforced Composites

C. Caruso[1], P. Lonetti[1], and A. Manna[1]

[1]Department of Structural Engineering, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Published in 2009

A generalized model to predict dynamic crack propagation in fiber composite structures is proposed. The proposed approach is based on a generalized formulation based on the Fracture Mechanics approach and Moving mesh methodology. Consistently to the Fracture Mechanics, the crack propagation depends from the energy release rate and its mode components, which are calculated by means of the decomposition methodology of the J-integral expression. The geometry variation, produced by the crack advance, is taken into account by means of a moving mesh strategy based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation. The governing equations are solved numerically by using COMSOL Multiphysics®. Comparisons with experimental results are reported to validate the proposed modeling.

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