Progressive Delamination in a Laminated Shell
Application ID: 78271
Interfacial failure, or delamination, in a composite material can be simulated using a cohesive zone model (CZM). A key component of a CZM is the traction-separation law, which describes softening in the cohesive zone near the delamination tip. This example demonstrates the implementation of a CZM with a bilinear traction-separation law in a composite laminate using the Layered Shell interface. The model demonstrates the CZM’s ability to predict mixed-mode softening and delamination propagation.
The example illustrates the initiation and propagation of delamination in a two-layer composite plate with an initially delaminated region at the interface. A bending load is gradually applied and removed in a parametric study to predict the total interfacial damage during one load cycle.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
- COMSOL Multiphysics® and
- Composite Materials Module and
- either the MEMS Module, or Structural Mechanics Module
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.
