Powerful Modelling Techniques in ABAQUS to Simulate Failure of Laminated composites

In this study, laminated composites consisting of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), Al-foil (Aluminum foil)and an adhesive interface layer is focused. The defects like necking in LDPE, Al-foil layer and interfacial delaminationcan significantly impact the loading capacity of the laminated material. However, the influence mechanisms of thedefects are still unclear, and no appropriate research tool is available. Therefore, the FEM model based on alreadyavailable techniques in ABAQUS is developed in this work. The aim with the model is to create a robust numericalanalysis tool for further research work.In the modelling process, possibility of necking in substrates and interfacial delamination between material layers isconsidered. A coupled elasto-plasticity damage constitutive model, based on Hooke’s Law, the J2 yield criterion,isotropic hardening, associated flow-rule and ductile damage model, is formulated to demonstrate necking behaviorof substrates. In ABAQUS, three modelling techniques, namely VCCT, Cohesive Element, and XFEM, have been usedto simulate interfacial delamination. The simulation results are compared with the theoretical results.A uniaxial tension test consisting of a two material laminate is simulated by using these three modelling techniques.The special modelling skills for respective modelling techniques, element type, meshing technique of each model, arealso introduced. The comparison with the theoretical results shows necking in substrates and interfacial delaminationare also achieved in all three models as expected. Deformation results of the simulation are very close to that of thetheoretical analysis. Technique features of VCCT, Cohesive Element and XFEM in modelling of interfacialdelamination are analyzed and concluded. These three FEM models can all be utilized according to the requirementsof subsequent research