A Multiscale Finite Element Model for Damage Simulations in Fiber-Reinforced Composites

In this thesis a contribution is made on theoretical development and implementation of damage models for fiber reinforced composites. These models build on the so called smeared crack approach, whereby the damage in the material is assumed to have a continuous distribution. The key point of this thesis is the prediction of maximum bearing loads as well as damage initiation and propagation in fiber reinforced composite structures. Firstly, a macroscopic damage model is developed using a linear degradation law in conjunction with an implicit-explicit stabilization scheme. A second approach is based on a coupled multi-scaled finite element model. The multi scale model affects damage at locations where it actually occurs, giving it a significant advantage over macroscopic models. The use of costly failure criterion is spared in this approach. Furthermore, the structure of the multiscale model makes it especially suitable for simultaneous parallel processing.