Multiscale Modeling of the effect of sub-ply voids on the failure of composites: A progressive failure model

The effective fracture behavior of a fiber-reinforced composite depends on both the design and manufacturing of the material. During manufacturing several type of defects can occur. One of these defects are micro-voids on the sub-ply level. These can consist of either matrix voids or gaps between the fibers due to the inability of the resin to flow between the fibers. A recently developed multiscale-theory is expended to account for these defects on the microscale. It was found that the type of defect on a sub-ply level had little effect on the macroscopic properties and the main parameter is the void content of these sub-ply voids. For a mode II opening it is found that there is a critical value after which the void content start to have an influence.Aerospace Engineerin