Modeling and Simulation of the Failure and Stiffness Degradation of a Graphite Epoxy in a Three Point Bending Test

The use of composite materials with continuous fibers in the aeronautic and aerospace industries requires reliable and precise methods for the prediction of failure. Predicting failure stresses and failure modes in composite laminates is very difficult. The choice between failure criteria is complex, and there is a lack of experimental study to validate the result obtained partly because the biaxial tests are still difficult to perform. This work employs a mixed methodology based on a theoretical and an experimental approach to develop a procedure for the choice and the validation of the failure criterion. The comparison is concerned not only with the macroscopic failure but also with the succession of the failure, the failure mode, and the effect of the geometrical parameters of the test specimen. The most general failure criteria are tested by using two approaches of the stiffness reduction. A finite element code has been elaborated within our laboratory for postfailure treatment. The numerical simulation results are compared with the experimental ones and permit us to make a conclusion on the validity of the failure criteria used.