Composite materials non-linear modelling for long fibre-reinforced laminates: Continuum basis, computational aspects and validations

An innovative computational methodology is proposed for modelling the material non-linear mechanical behaviour of FRP structures. To model a single unidirectional composite lamina, a serial–parallel (SP) continuum approach has been developed assuming that components behave as parallel materials in the fibres alignment direction and as serial materials in orthogonal directions. The model is based on the appropriate management of the constitutive models of the component materials, by making use of suitable ‘closure equations’ that characterize the composite micro-mechanics [Rastellini F. Modelización numérica de la no-linealidad constitutiva de laminados compuestos. PhD thesis. ETSECCPB, Politechnical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, March, 2006. [in Spanish]]. Classical lamination theory is combined with the SP model to describe multidirectional laminates. The methodology is validated through several numerical analyses, which are contrasted against benchmark tests and experimental data taken from the world-wide failure exercise [Hinton MJ, Soden PD. Predicting failure in composite laminates: The background to the exercise. Comp Sci Technol 1998; 58:1001–10].