A Strain Rate Dependent Progressive Damage Model for Carbon Fiber Woven Composites under Low Velocity Impact

Abstract A progressive damage model was presented for carbon fiber woven composites under low velocity impact, considering the strain rate sensitivity of both mechanical properties and failure mechanisms. In this model, strain rate dependency of elastic modulus and nominal strength along in-plane direction are considered. Based on the Weibull distribution, stiffness progressive degradation is conducted by introducing strain rate dependent damage variables for distinct damage modes. With the model implemented in ABAQUS/Explicit via user-defined material subroutine (VUMAT), the mechanical behavior and possible damage modes of composites along in-plane direction can be determined. Furthermore, a bilinear traction separation model and a quadratic stress criterion are applied to predict the initiation and evolution of interlaminar delamination. Comparisons are made between the experimental results and numerical simulations. It is shown that the mechanical response and damage characteristics under low velocity impact, such as contact force history and delamination, are more consistent with the experimental results when taken the strain rate effect into consideration.