RESTRAN: Residual Strength Analysis of Impact Damaged Composite Laminates. Volume I: Theoretical Manual
Abstract
The use of composite material systems in structural design has yielded significant improvements in material efficiency by minimizing weight while meeting static and dynamic strength requirements. The complexity of composite materials, however, has presented a spectrum of additional design considerations in the areas of fabrication, strength tailoring, failure mechanisms, and damage tolerance. Laminated composites exhibit a variety of damage and failure modes which include matrix cracking, fiber breakage, delamination propagation, and instability. Of prime concern is the predication of residual strength in composite structures subjected to damage-causing impact threats in the intended service environment. The present effort aims to account for many of the salient damage mechanisms utilizing a numerical, finite element-based approach. Such an approach permits a broad range of failure modes to be accounted for while allowing the modeling of complex geometries, support conditions, and applied loading. This report details the theoretical and algorithmic basis of a developed computer program denoted RESTRAN (REsidual STRength ANalysis), incorporating both material and structural failure modes in the prediction of residual strength in composite structures containing internal damage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA393269
Entities
People
- Erik Saether
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory