Explicit multiscale modelling of impact damage on laminated composites – Part I: Validation of the micromechanical model

This work presents the development and verification of a multiscale methodology applicable for modelling of impact damage in laminated composite structures. The methodology employs the High Fidelity Generalized Method of Cells (HFGMC) micromechanical model for the prediction of local stress/strain fields within the unidirectional composite material. The micromechanical model has been coupled with Abaqus/Explicit, where the structural scale computations have been performed.The methodology utilises the Mixed Mode Continuum Damage Mechanics theory (MMCDM) as to model damage within the composite microstructure. Validation and application of the multiscale methodology have been presented in two separate papers. Part I presents an overview of the micromechanical model and validation of the micromechanical damage model, whereas the multiscale analyses have been demonstrated in Part II of the paper.The micromechanical damage model parameters have been determined by correlation with available experimental data of the nonlinear behaviour of the homogenised composite material at in-plane shear and transverse compressive loading. The obtained results demonstrate the ability of the micromechanical approach to model accurately the failure modes of the composite material, as well as the nonlinear behaviour of the composite plies at the in-plane shear and transverse compressive loading.