Progressive failure analysis of carbon fiber/epoxy composite laminates using continuum damage mechanics

Based on the CDM theory, an energy-based stiffness degradation method is proposed to predict the progressive failure properties of the Al–carbon fiber/epoxy composite laminates. For carbon fiber/epoxy composites, three failure modes: fiber breakage, matrix cracking and fiber/matrix interface failure are included in the present model. A 3D finite element technique including the multiframe restart analysis and the arc-length algorithm is developed...