Damage evolution in open-hole laminated composite plates subjected to in-plane loads

Damage evolution of notched composite laminates is analysed in this work using a discrete damage model, which estimates matrix damage evolution and fibre failure. The fibre damage is regularised with a Weibull distribution, and a Regula Falsi method has been used to improve numerical convergence. The model is compared and validated with several experimental results taken from the scientific literature, which consider different materials, laminate stacking sequences and specimen geometries. A good correlation has been found for the failure strength and the stress-strain curve of notched and un-notched laminates subjected to in plane loads. The influence of the Weibull modulus on the matrix and fibre damage evolution, and the failure strength, is analysed.